KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has released a new report that outlines some of his expectations with Apple’s 2017 iPhone. The expected updates include some structural changes, in addition to new biometric identification technology.

Details from the note were published today by MacRumors.

Kuo, a notable analyst with a good track record when it comes to predicting Apple’s hardware changes, outlined that Apple could be improving upon its 3D Touch ID technology for this year’s iPhone, in order “to complement its full-screen (zero bezel) form factor design.” He also notes that the phone could come with a flexible OLED panel, which would be accompanied by a metal structural part to prevent the OLED panel from deforming.

Kuo believes that the Touch ID system will be phased out in favor of a facial recognition system, although this could work in concert with a fingerprint reader if the “technical challenges cannot be overcome.”

Judging by the bio-recognition patents that Apple has applied for, we believe it is leaning toward facial recognition technology rather than iris recognition. However, we note that the technical challenges of facial recognition include: (1) algorithms; (2) hardware design; and (3) the build-out of a database for verification and authentication, which could be time consuming. As such, before Apple can fully replace the fingerprint system with facial recognition, a combination of the two steps of bio-recognition could be a valid solution for enhancing transactions security.

We’ve seen rumors already that Apple is planning on eliminating the home button entirely in this year’s iPhone, and there’s persistent talk that the phone will come without a bezel — something that we like the sound of.

Source: The verge