Report Claims iPhone 8 Won’t Be Available in White, Delayed Again

There has been no shortage of rumors this year suggesting that possible delays could beset the iPhone 8. Today, we received yet another corroborating report, along with information regarding the fate of Touch ID, and the iPhone 8’s color options.

iPhone 8 Delay

The premium 2017 handset will see an on-schedule unveiling but might not ship until later in the year, according to sources within Apple’s supply chain. The tech giant is rumored to announce the iPhone 8 (a.k.a iPhone X or iPhone Edition) alongside the upgraded iPhone 7s lineup during Apple’s regular fall event, which typically takes place in September. However, the top-tier Apple flagship won’t ship alongside the other two 2017 handsets. Instead, it’s reportedly slated for a later-than-usual launch in October or November, according to sources cited by Japanese publication Mac Otakara.

That delay is apparently due to the global supply constraints affecting the tech industry. Due to those supply shortages, today’s Mac Otakara report also claims that the iPhone 8 will be available in strictly limited supplies this year, which backs up a previous prediction made by noted KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

No Side Mounted Touch ID

Interestingly, the publication’s sources also indicated that manufacturing blanks for the premium handset have no hole for a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. That suggests that Apple has decided to go for another method, such as a biometric facial recognition solution, a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, or the fabled display-embedded Touch ID. The report goes on to say that a so-called “Face ID” system is “highly unlikely.”

Of course, the iPhone 8’s biometric system is still completely up in the air, as we’ve been inundated with numerous leaks, schematics, reports and supposed dummies all claiming one solution or another. More recent reports tend to lean toward Apple refraining from a rear-mounted solution, and newer dummy models tend to show off an iPhone without a hole for a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

No White Option

Additionally, the report suggests that the iPhone 8 will only be available with black front-frame bezels — since a white option has been confirmed to be “not possible.” Apple already uses white bezels on its iPhone 7 lineup, but it could be running into issues with the specialized ink or the bonding process due to the iPhone 8’s new design and OLED display. It’s worth noting that Apple also faced problems with the white color option on its iPhone 4 in 2010, the first Apple handset to feature a “glass sandwich” design. The report also notes that iOS 11 might see an all-new version of “Raise of Wake,” which debuted in iOS 10.

This year’s premium iPhone is largely expected to be released alongside two incremental iPhone 7s handsets. The iPhone 8 is rumored to sport a revolutionary new design, including an edge-to-edge OLED display with no bezels, an advanced laser and 3D sensor suite for AR and biometric recognition, and a glass sandwich design. The top-tier iPhone is also likely to feature wireless charging, a new capability that might extend to the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus.

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]