Rumor: ‘iPhone 8’ may not ship until late 2017, Touch ID support still uncertain

A new report from Japanese site Mac Otakara is suggesting that the “iPhone 8” may in fact be delayed until late 2017, seemingly contradicting a report yesterday from tech blogger Benjamin Geskin that indicated that Foxconn has “started trial production of the new model, and that the “iPhone 8 is not delayed.” Mac Otakara on the other hand claims that while the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus are expected to arrive on schedule, the “premium model iPhone Edition” may only be announced at a September event, with availability in “the first half of the first quarter of 2018” (corresponding to Oct – Dec 2017) and an initial supply that will likely be “extremely limited.”  Although it’s arguable whether an October release technically constitutes a “delay,” the Mac Otakara report casts further doubt on the specific availability of the higher-end iPhone model, particularly in light of reports of suppliers struggling to keep up with component demand.
The Mac Otakara report also adds to the uncertainty around how Apple will be implementing the Touch ID sensors in the new iPhone — if at all — adding only that the possibility of the sensor being included in the sleep/wake button or otherwise on the side of the iPhone “seems to be low” and suggesting similar skepticism around an in-dispaly Touch ID implementation. Mac Otakara echoes earlier reports of a facial ID authentication system replacing Touch ID, noting the possible inclusion of new front sensors based on images of screen protectors being produced by third parties. [via MacRumors]