There have been a lot of rumors lately about Apple creating a brand new iPhone for 2017 with an all-screen design. Today those rumors continue with some leaks that come directly from Apple.
Apple recently released early firmware for its HomePod smart speaker ahead of the device’s launch. The speaker runs a special version of iOS, and after digging into the firmware, developers have found some hints at the rumored iPhone 8.
I can confirm reports that HomePod’s firmware reveals the existence of upcoming iPhone’s infra-red face unlock in BiometricKit and elsewhere pic.twitter.com/yLsgCx7OTZ
— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) July 31, 2017
The HomePod’s firmware includes references to infrared face detection in its BiometricKit section that’s also used for Touch ID. There are also “FaceDetect” references for situations like when your face might be too close to the camera or too far away.
Perhaps even more notable are references to “pearl” for the infrared face detection and “D22” for the iPhone 8. Also included in the HomePod’s iOS firmware is a basic image for D22 that lines up nicely with the new all-screen design that’s rumored to be coming with the iPhone 8. We can see a screen with rounded corners and a notch at the top that’d presumably house the earpiece, front camera, and other sensors.
Here's a higher resolution version: pic.twitter.com/p60xeEn7Ie
— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) July 31, 2017
While nothing is official until Apple says it is, the fact that all of these details were found inside official Apple firmware strongly suggest that the iPhone 8 will have an all-screen design and infrared face detection. Rumors have suggested that Apple may be unable to integrate its usual Touch ID fingerprint reader tech into this new iPhone’s front, and so infrared face detection may be the primary method of authentication for iPhone 8 owners.
The iPhone 8 is rumored to be Apple’s premium model for 2017, with iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus models also expected to come to market. Based on today’s leak, are you interested in the iPhone 8?
