New reports indicate that there will be significant changes in the upcoming iPhone not just with regards to features but also in the shape. This is according a Chinese publication which has reported that the aspect ratio of the iPhone will be different from previous versions and will be more like LG’s G6 or Samsung’s Galaxy S8.

The next iPhone will thus have an aspect ratio of 18.5:9 instead of 16:9 according to the report that obtained information from sources based at a Taiwanese parts supplier for Apple known as TSMC – Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Consequently, the next iPhone will be slimmer and taller than any other of its predecessors.

Slimmer and taller

An aspect ratio of 18.5:9 is favored by manufacturers because it allows them to raise the size of the display of a smartphone while at the same time managing to keep it narrow enough for users to hold it with one hand while still being able to comfortably swipe or type on the keyboard. One disadvantage, however, is that this aspect ratio makes the navigation that is normally positioned at the top harder to reach. It also makes it necessary for app developers to redesign the user interfaces.

New reports also confirm what has long been speculated about – Apple will get rid of the Home button and instead have Touch ID integrated into the display. While previous reports had indicated that the iPhone 8 would be completely stripped of all bezels, the latest leaks indicate that there will be a bezel left intact at the top in order to accommodate the earpiece, camera and the sensor.

Infrared sensors

The next iPhone is also expected to be launched with infrared sensors that will enable the running of augmented reality applications but also enhance the functionalities of the iPhone’s high-pixel camera. Apple’s chief executive officer Tim Cook is on record as saying that augmented reality technology will become more popular than virtual reality technology. Augmented reality is also believed to be the reason that the iPhone is likely to switch to rear cameras that are vertically aligned instead of the horizontally aligned ones.