Apple releases new versions of iPhones every year, topping themselves each time with the innovations introduced in the newer models. It is also working on new features that would improve recent versions of the smartphone — including a curved screen and touchless controls.
Apple is staying ahead of the curve by introducing features not found in competitors' models.
Differentiation
New reports have Apple working on features that aren't found on their competitors' phones. It is rumored to be working on iPhones with curved screens and controls that work with just the wag of a finger. The only catch with the new features is that they won't be available for at least two years, according to Bloomberg.
Apple's 3D Touch works by detecting the different amounts of pressure applied by the user. This new feature would work by detecting the user's proximity to the screen to determine what the person is trying to do.
Curved screens are the other new feature that Apple is reportedly working on. This iPhone display would have a screen that curves inward gradually from the top to the bottom of the phone. It wouldn't be similar to the Samsung screens that feature edges that curve downward instead of inward.
Apple's iPhone X has an OLED screen that curves slightly at the bottom but isn't detectable. OLED screens can be curved or folded. Apple is also working on a new type of MicroLED screen, but this technology is even further away at three to five years.
Competing Technology
Samsung developed a feature called Air Gestures that allows users to answer calls and swipe through web pages by waving their hands across the top of the phone. This was available on the Samsung Galaxy S4. This feature used a motion sensor on the phone's bezel instead of being built into the display.
Google is also working on technology using gestures through a program called Project Soli. The gestures wouldn't need to be close to the screen like how Apple is developing its gesture feature. This technology would be built directly into the display without the need for a motion sensor.
Nothing is certain, and with the time frame that is provided in the report, these features could change. In the smartphone sector, features are often reported but aren't seen for a long time. One of the current rumors is that Samsung is working on a foldable smartphone. Patents have been filed, but the technology to create this feature still hasn't caught up with the idea.
