We’ve been here before, it’s not like this is the first time someone has predicted that Apple is going to remove the physical home button from the iPhone. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster has now predicted that there’s a 50% chance that Apple might remove the physical home button in the iPhone 7, he made this prediction in a recent note sent out to investors, explaining that he’s making this prediction based on market analysis.
It goes without saying that nothing can be said for sure about the new iPhones at this point, there’s almost a year to go before the new iPhones are due, and Apple has a lot of time on its hands to make changes to its plans for the next generation smartphone.
Ever since the iPhone was released back in 2007 it has had the physical home button, it’s certainly going to be a major shift from tradition for Apple if it decides to remove it for good.
Munster predicts that by further improving the 3D Touch system Apple can essentially integrate the home button on the display itself, thus eliminating the need for a physical button, which will then enable the company to add a slightly larger display and make the device even thinner.
What about Touch ID, the fingerprint sensor that lives beneath the home button? Munster says that Apple can do what many Android OEMs have done and place the fingerprint sensor on the side of the device.
Munster has a hit or miss track record when it comes to his Apple predictions so don’t take this too seriously right now, we’ll have to wait for more signs to be absolutely sure that Apple’s making the big decision of removing the iconic home button from the iPhone.