Australian retailers hoping for an earlier not later 2017, launch of the new OLED iPhone, may have to settle for a late October or even November launch in Australia.
This follows rumours from manufacturers that the earliest that the iPhone can hit production lines is September, due in part to Apple bringing on board several new suppliers of components such as a new Apple developed fingerprint sensor to replace the Touch ID, which is very complicated and needs more time to manufacture. Other new suppliers include for the battery and display screen.
This time round Apple has given Synaptics’ Natural ID touch fingerprint sensor and Qualcomm’s Sense ID fingerprint technology a miss, instead the US Company who have still to pay back $14Billion in back taxes to the EU is set to use an authentic algorithm combined with Privaris glass identification technology to ID users of the new device.
Apple’s in-house developed fingerprint ID solution will be fabricated at TSMC’s 12-inch Taiwan production facility line using 65nm process technology, said the sources, adding that production for the new OLED iPhone is unlikely to start until September due to the redesigned fingerprint ID solution.
At this stage the new iPhone could be the first smartphone to deliver ‘built-in’ sensor integrated into the front display screen.
Their latest iPhone 7 offering is lacking a lot of advanced features found in top end Android devices from the likes of Samsung, HTC, LG and Huawei.
At this stage, it is not known what new technology will appear in the new Samsung Galaxy 8 which is due for release next month.
Speculation has it that the new iPhone will have some of the following features.
– Dual-lens 3D camera – Augmented reality to generate real-time views of surroundings
– Curved glass casing – Plastic OLED screen – Wireless charging – A folding element
– New 5-inch (12.7 centimetre) and 5.8-inch (14.7 centimetre) model, which will have a wraparound OLED screen
– 5.8 inch will be designed with the Touch ID finger print sensor ‘under the glass and in the active display area’
– A new ‘pure white’ model – Aluminium back will be replaced with two reinforced glass panes and a metal frame in the middle
– Facial recognition
There is also speculation that Apple is keen to push the price of their top end 256GB version of the iPhone 8 which could also get a new name to $1,499.
Apple is also rumoured to be launching two other smartphones along with the iPhone 8 – a 4.7-inch (the iPhone 7s) and a 5.5-inch (the iPhone 7s Plus).
Both the 5.5-inch model and the 5.8-inch model are believed to be equipped with the same camera used in the iPhone 7 Plus – the dual-lens camera.
