Apple Working On Touchless Gestures, Curved Screens

Apple is reportedly working on new technology that would enable touchless gestures as well as curved screens for future iterations of the iPhone.

Bloomberg reported Apple is betting the new technologies will aid in differentiating the phone in a crowded mobile handset market. The touchless gesture technology would enable users to engage in some iPhone tasks by moving their finger close to the screen but not by actually tapping the device. However, the technology won’t be available for two years or more if Apple decides to proceed with the innovations. Apple’s latest iPhones have 3D Touch built in that responds based on how users pressure their fingers on the screen.

On the display front, Apple is working on screens that curve inward, one of the sources told Bloomberg, noting that it will be different from Samsung’s phone, which has curved edges. Although the iPhone X’s OLED screen does curve at the bottom, it’s hard for the human eye to see the design change. The new design won’t be available for two or three years at least.

Apple’s newest potential innovations come as the Cupertino, California-based smartphone pioneer looks to make its gadgets stand out. Smartphones have become increasingly similar to Apple’s original design. Samsung Electronics Co., Google and Huawei Technologies Co. have all adopted features like full screens, advanced cameras and facial recognition around roughly the same time.

While Apple is operating in a crowded mobile phone market, its iPhones are still resonating with consumers around the globe. Sales of its iPhones topped more than $60 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017, which was approximately seven times higher than sales of Huawei’s smartphones, MacRumors reported. Apple’s global wholesale smartphone revenue reached $61.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017. By comparison, Huawei saw $8.4 billion in worldwide smartphone revenue. Samsung made out a bit better, with $18.9 billion in global smartphone sales. Manufacturers other than Apple, Huawei and Samsung took in a combined $31.5 billion in smartphone revenue worldwide.