Another Questionable Rumor Says iPhone 8 to Feature Backside Touch ID

On Monday, KGI’s Ming-Chi Kuo said that the “iPhone 8” wouldn’t have Touch ID built into the front of the device as once believed. Instead, the analyst said the iPhone would include 3-D sensing for facial recognition and “improved selfie quality.”

Today, July 5, master leaker Benjamin Geskin took to Twitter and published a series of images purportedly showing a pallet of front panels for the smartphone. As you see below, some of the pictures show a Touch ID button on the back of the device.

Even Geskin has expressed skepticism over his latest leak, stating that the device in question doesn’t include an edge-to-edge display. The iPhone 8 is widely expected to include an edge-to-edge OLED display.

For the past few months, the biggest unknown about Apple’s new 5.8-inch handset has been the placement of Touch ID. For months, it looked like the device would include Touch ID embedded into the display. Early production issues, however, put that placement in doubt.

In April, it appeared increasingly likely Apple would be forced to move Touch ID to the back of the device. Another rumor said Touch ID might be headed to the device’s power button. In more recent weeks, it looked again like Touch ID would find a place embedded into the display.

Reporting by Kuo and Geskin once again puts that in doubt.

I remain unconvinced Apple would move Touch ID to the back of the device.     Instead, I think the leaks are of rejected mockups or fakes. We should know in about eight weeks.

Apple’s likely to announce three new iPhones for 2017 in early September. In addition to the long-rumored 5.8-inch device, the company’s also expected to release a 4.7-inch “iPhone 7s” and 5.5-inch “iPhone 7 Plus.”

Do you think the iPhone 8 will ship with Touch ID on the back? Let us know below. 

For more on the 2017 iPhone lineup, see: