Apple expected to ditch home button in iPhone 8

The upcoming Apple iPhone 8 might bring a new set of gesture control options, eliminating the need for a home button. The phone which is expected to launch on September 12 could change the way you interact with it in a significant way if reports from Bloomberg are to be believed.

According to the report, Apple is bringing a software bar replacing the home button on its upcoming phone. The user can swipe up to the middle of the screen to unlock the device. Other expected gestures include swiping up on the screen to open the list of apps running in the background. Previously, one had to double tap the home button to access the running apps. Continuously swiping up the finger above the screen will close the current app.

This is just part of what’s set to be a radical redesign of the next iPhone. Other rumors state that the iPhone could mute notifications when you’re looking at it, include face scanning technology that works even when the phone is on the table, and include a screen that fills the frame of the phone except for a little notch that houses sensors, cameras, and earpiece. The Bloomberg report also mentions that the display of the Apple iPhone 8 will accommodate 24 icons excluding the dock (a bar at the bottom of the display that shows commonly used apps) on each page. The apps will be lined in 6 vertical rows.