iPhone 7 will be the last phone with actual home button, according to reports
The whole thing will be a big sheet of glass
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The upcoming iPhone might be the last one to feature a home button, according to a new report.
The 2017 handset – long rumoured to be a far bigger upgrade than any in previous years, including the iPhone 7 – will just be one big sheet of glass on the front, according to a Bloomberg report.
That will be achieved by dropping the home button that has sat on the bottom of iPhones ever since they were first released in 2007. As such, it will likely bring a whole new design to the phone – which has previously been marked out by the iconic round shape at its bottom.
Without the home button, the whole front of the phone will be able to function as a screen. The home button would presumably either be integrated into the software, or be added as an invisible button at the bottom of the phone.
The 2017 iPhone will be the tenth anniversary edition, and is as such expected to include more changes than normal. This year’s iPhone – due for release next month – is thought to be more of an “s” year to get ready for a much bigger update next year.
Next year’s phone is also thought to bring with it a third, premium smartphone alongside the normal line – perhaps the long-rumoured “Pro” model of the phone. That will include a curved screen around the side, like Samsung’s “Edge” phones, according to reports.
The iPhone 7 is widely rumoured to keep much of the same design. But it will include a little home button change of its own: Apple is widely expected to get rid of the actual button at the bottom of the screen and swap it instead for a flush one that doesn’t actually press, and instead simulates a press with vibrations.
Other than that, the new phone is expected to remove the headphone jack from the bottom of the phone, and include big upgrades to the camera.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments