There have been rumors that Apple is going to remove the Home button from the iPhone 8 to make way for its larger display. The Home button has been a permanent fixture on iPhones ever since the handset was first released back in 2008. This is going to be a very significant change if Apple ends up making it. The new iPhone is reportedly going to rely more on gesture controls.
Bloomberg reports that the iPhone 8 won’t have a Home button in favor of gesture controls. It has spoken to people familiar with the new handset and has also seen images of the new device.
The scribe reports that gesture controls will help users go to the main app grid and open multitasking. Instead of a physical home button, there’s going to be a thin, software bar. Users will be able to drag it up to the middle of the screen to unlock the phone.
When they’re inside an app, a similar gesture will open multitasking. Users can continue to flick upwards to close the app or go back to the home screen. The multitasking interface has reportedly been redesigned to appear like a series of standalone cards that can be swiped through.
The iPhone 8’s overall size is said to be similar to that of the iPhone 7 but it’s going to be the first smartphone from Apple to feature an OLED display. The screen will be rounded on the corners and the power button will be longer so users can press it easily when holding the device in one hand.
Apple is expected to unveil the new iPhone on September 12th.