One of the more fascinating and intriguing iPhone 8 rumors we’ve come across suggests that Apple’s next-gen smartphone will feature a “function area” located towards the bottom of the display. While details remain scare, the area would presumably be similar in function to the MacBook Pro’s TouchBar.
With the iPhone 8 said to feature an edge to edge display, placing a specialized “function area” in the spot formerly occupied by the iPhone’s bottom bezel isn’t that outlandish. And given that the rumor was initially brought to light by reputed analyst Ming Chi-Kuo, there’s a good chance that the “function area” rumor will actually come to fruition.
In an effort to imagine how this rumored iPhone feature might look and feel, Tech Driven Times recently put together an interesting iPhone 8 concept video depicting the function area in action. As envisioned by the video below, the iPhone 8’s function area would sit above a hidden Touch ID sensor and present users with dynamic and ever-changing controls based on whatever app or window happens to be active.
All in all, it’s an interesting concept, primarily because replacing the bottom bezel with a dynamic OLED strip would allow Apple and other app makers to present users with frequently used controls without encroaching upon the iPhone display itself. In one example highlighted by the video, the function area would allow a user to seamlessly zoom in on a photo by quickly sliding their finger across the display.
As for other iPhone 8 rumors, there are growing rumblings that the iPhone 8, in addition to wireless charging functionality, will also incorporate advanced facial recognition software that may complement the iPhone’s venerable Touch ID feature. We’ve also seen reports that the iPhone 8 will pack an iPhone 7 Plus-sized display into a 4.7-inch iPhone 7 form factor.
