14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is getting ready to introduce the 10th generation iPhone model sometime in September, but as the device celebrates a decade on the market, we finally get a glimpse at early prototypes that the company used to test various features before launch.
This photo published by former human interface manager for Apple Ken Kocienda reveals two such prototypes which Cupertino internally called Wallabies.
As you can see for yourselves, the two devices do not look like iPhones, but that’s only because they are covered in protective cases, obviously to hide the actual design of the phones. Apple has become famous over the years for its CIA-like secrecy regarding its products, though in the last few years, more and more leaks revealed its smartphones ahead of the public launch.
The home button will go away
This is the case of the iPhone 8 as well, which is expected to debut in September with a completely new design that would feature an OLED display with narrow bezels, wireless charging, and face recognition cameras. Leaks have already shown its design, despite Apple’s struggle to prevent leaks.
Getting back to the prototypes, Kocienda explains they used them to create the software keyboard that was available on the first iPhones. Both feature a home button, which apparently is getting the ax on the upcoming model, in the favor of a fingerprint sensor embedded into the screen.
The home button, on the other hand, is expected to remain available on the iPhone 7s and 7s Plus, which are direct successors to the current-generation models. Apple is preparing more subtle changes for these models, though some upgrades are still planned, as it’s the case of wireless charging, which could become a top feature on all iPhone models.
Of course, these are all rumors based on existing leaks and information coming from unofficial sources, so it remains to be seen if they are accurate or not.
In the meantime, have a look at these prototypes, as they’re one of the earliest looks at what has become the world’s most popular device in the last decade.
Here are two iPhone prototypes. We called them Wallabies. I used these devices to make the software keyboard. pic.twitter.com/qbofBL3RUt — kocienda (@kocienda) June 29, 2017