There's still much deliberation, and back-and-forth over precisely how many iPhone 8 models there will be, which ones will have OLED displays, and whether it will be called the iPhone 8, the iPhone 7s, the iPhone X, or something else entirely, but regardless, the rumours and leaks are still corroborating very consistently and firmly that 2017 is the year for a MAJOR design overhaul.
Reports have surfaced about Apple making the iPhone EVEN larger in 2017. According to reports Apple will bump the display size to 5.8in but this could all be included inside a similarly sized chassis to this year’s Plus model on account of the iPhone 8 not having any bezels – it’s thought it will be an all-display front just like the Xiaomi Mi Mix.
Meaning it'd look a little something like this.
“The current rumor is that Apple could be looking at a larger 5.8-inch OLED panel for the iPhone 8 (presumably a Plus model),” notes Geek. “The current iPhone 7 Plus has a 5.5-inch 1080p LCD. As far as LCDs go, Apple has always chosen very nice ones. However, OLED technology has come a long way in recent years and is really undeniably better. The colors, black levels, and response time are noticeably better than LCD.”
Allegedly, this will be the iPhone Jony Ive has always dreamt of making.
This year’s iPhone will be a big deal. Apple’s most profitable product is turning 10 years old, so it stands to reason the company will definitely be doing something special.
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Design will be a key factor, I believe, as will overall performance and usability.
Let's now drill down into what will make the iPhone 8 tick and attempt to paint a picture of what we'll see launched later on this year.
iPhone 8 Release Date, Specs & Prices: iPhone 8 Release Date – When Can You Buy It?
This is one thing you can almost set your watch by: Apple ALWAYS launches its iPhones inside the last quarter of the year – either very late Q3 or early Q4.
This means the handsets are available in store for the busiest shopping period of the year in the run up to Christmas.
Apple does a keynote, usually a big affair with celebrities and plenty of back-slapping, and then launches the new iPhones a week or so later.
This year should be no different.
There will also be no update to the iPhone SE, either. So do not expect to see any iPhones released before the very end of 2017.
As for price? There’ll be three handsets, apparently – standard, Plus and Pro.
Expect to pay well over a $1000 for the full-spec Pro model.
iPhone 8 Release Date, Specs & Prices: iPhone 8 Design
What’s clear from the state of play at the close of 2016 is that Apple is now in the process of building next year’s iPhones. The company is sourcing OLED panels from a variety of sources and word on the street suggests the company will include said OLED panel inside only one of the new iPhones – most likely the Pro model, which also happens to be the most expensive.
The rumours are all pretty solid at present, but they can be broken down into a series of simple points. Below are all the major changes expected to feature inside Apple’s 2017 iPhone 8 series of handsets:
- Brand new design; likely all-touch frontage with zero bezels, curved display also likely.
- A11 Chipset – this will be ultra-powerful and very efficient.
- Big Updates To iPhone 7 Plus’ Dual-Lens Camera.
- The Removal of the Home Key – controversial, but very likely.
- Higher Display Resolutions (Hopefully across the board)
- A New Pro Model iPhone – This will be the true flagship
- Big Improvements To Standard iPhone 8 Model: 1080p Display, Improved Imaging.
- Bigger Battery Life: iPhone 8 Pro will likely feature the biggest battery ever placed inside an iPhone
We've heard a lot of talk in the last six months or so about Apple's iPhone 8 being an "all glass" or clear ceramic handset, fashioned from curved, transparent bodywork, possibly in a similar shape to the iPhone 4S; reports have differed, however, on whether or not it will feature a metal supportive frame.
Logic says probably yes, and revered sage of Apple-based predictions, Ming-chi Kuo (of KGI Securities) has previously suggested that there will indeed be a metal frame for the iPhone 8, made from stainless steel, no less.
Now, as of January 10, new reports are corroborating with Kuo's analysis; Digitimes claims to have heard from sources which state that US firm Jabil will supply stainless steel frame components for Apple's 2017 flagship; interestingly, the last time Apple used a stainless steel frame was indeed on the iPhone 4S, which may add further weight to the idea of an iPhone 4S inspired design made mostly from curved glass.
This time, the steel frames will be produced differently, instead of being milled by a CNC machine, the 2017 frames will be forged, where the steel is pressed into the desired shape. Stainless steel will potentially make the iPhone 7 more durable than recent aluminium-framed models, but it will also be more expensive to produce, a cost that is sure to be passed on to consumers. However, the forging of stainless steel is cheaper than the CNC milling process, an estimated saving of around 30%-50%.
"The next-generation iPhone is expected to abandon its conventional aluminum back cover design and will adopt a new design using two reinforced glass panes and a metal frame in the middle," the sources said.
"The metal bezel will be made of stainless steel using a forging process to enhance its sturdiness and reduce costs and manufacturing time."
New details suggest that Apple's next iPhone could feature a dedicated laser sensor designed to allow digital facial recognition as well.
Given the above news about there being possible iPhone 7s AND iPhone 8 launches inside 2017, it's not clear which model might have this feature as the source does not specify. The info comes via a research note by analysts at Cowen and Company, which states one of Apple's forthcoming devices will have "some form of facial/gesture recognition".
The note adds that the feature will be "supported by a new laser sensor and an infrared sensor mounted near the front-facing camera," it also claims that the handset will "finally include wireless charging".
Apple's acquisition of infrared sensor firm Primesense in 2013 means the iPhone creator definitely has access to the kind of technology required for such a feature. What's more, it makes a lot of sense that Apple will be starting to integrate it into its devices, as CEO Tim Cook has made no bones about the fact that Augmented Reality (AR) is going to be a big focus in the future, and the use of infrared sensors, facial recognition, and gesture control, would all be important building blocks of this.
The research note describes a "feature-rich launch with three models" for 2017, outlining a new 5.8in iPhone alongside updates to the existing 4.7in and 5.5in models. The report suggests the 5.8in phone will use OLED display technology in a "wraparound" setup with the TouchID fingerprint scanner under the screen glass; all of this we've heard before of course.
Additionally, the note says one of the handsets may be called the "iPhone 10" or "iPhone X". It alleges 2017's Apple launches could create an upgrade "supercycle" due to the major advances in technology over existing models.
In order to get a better understanding of what Apple’s iPhone 8 handset might look like a designer, one Handy Abovergleich, has designed to create a series of mock-ups depicting all the current rumours surrounding Apple’s upcoming iPhone 8 handsets.
As you can see below, the iPhone 8 – if the rumours are true – would look positively stunning. Curved panels, all-display frontages and smooth back plates give the handset a decidedly Samsung-like look and feel.
But this shouldn’t come as surprise; Samsung has been the one pushing design boundaries in recent times, not Apple.
The last time Apple did anything drastic with its iPhone was way back when it launched the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Since then the phones have followed the same design language. This year’s handsets, Apple’s 10th anniversary handsets, need to be different.
iPhone 8 Release Date, Specs & Prices: iPhone 8 Display Technology – Curved OLED Panels?
It's been established for a little while now that the next iPhone, the iPhone 8, as it may be called, will have at least one high-end variant equipped with an edge-to-edge, wrap-around curved OLED display. And it goes without saying that this will be similar in style to Samsung's Galaxy EDGE curved OLED design, which brings the display curving round the edges of two sides of the phone.
Samsung has been using this design for a couple of generations now, but although there is some functionality built-in, it is primarily an aesthetic design feature.
Three MAJOR Benefits of OLED Display
- OLEDs produce deeper blacks and have a wider gamut array, and because they’re not backlit they possess higher contrast ratios. In addition to this, refresh rates are WAY faster than what you’ll come across on LCD/LED setups. Viewing angles are also better, meaning you can pretty much see exactly what’s happening on the screen even when standing at 90 degrees.
- Plastic is lighter and more durable than glass. OLEDs are made from plastics and are therefore A LOT lighter and less prone to shattering than their LED/LCD counterparts. This is how Samsung and LG is able to make curved phones and HDTVs.
- OLED displays used to be pricy and this was because of the production costs associated with building them. This is why OLED TVs are insanely expensive these days. However, once new production capabilities are scaled up, something that is happening now, the cost of producing OLED displays will drop dramatically, meaning OLED TVs will be cheaper than LED ones by 2017/18. Of course it is hoped this cost saving will also transfer into smartphones.
Make no mistake: this is Apple blatantly following Samsung’s lead, just as it did with the Apple Pencil, but that’s no bad thing. If something’s a good idea or looks good then it’s fair game – at least in my book. But will Apple’s rendition differ from Samsung’s? A freshly unearthed patent filed on May 19 2016 by the iPhone maker would appear to confirm it has bigger plans for this feature than Samsung – with some new functional capabilities detailed.
Apple Insider picked up the patent details, with the patent filing being titled "Electronic Devices With Display and Touch Sensor Structures". As expected, the design described has a flexible OLED display panel which curves around both lateral edges of the device, the patent explains this curved surface could display information, as it does on Samsung's devices.
However, it goes on to add an explanation for functional touch features as well.
It can be challenging to gather touch input from a user and to display images for a user efficiently."
"For example, when a user supplies touch input to a touch screen display, the user’s hand may block images that are being displayed on the display. Buttons and other input devices may be used to gather input from a user, but this type of input device may not be as convenient and versatile as a touch sensor. Displays are sometimes not visible from certain directions and may be smaller than desired."
Apple details a possible idea for virtual control keys embedded in the curved display edges, some examples would be the volume rocker, mute key, and standby mode, but there are numerous other functions which could also be assigned their own software key. Even application shortcuts are plausible.
"Touch input on sidewalls in device 10 may be used as a control for a camera (e.g., a virtual shutter button input), may be used as input in other virtual button scenarios, may be used in implementing a volume slider button or a slider button for controlling other device operations (e.g., screen brightness, color settings, contrast settings, etc.)"
Note that this concept has been entertained in the past, though one criticism is the implementation of control keys on a curved edge surface, however, the patent explains that the wrap-around edges do not necessarily need to be curved; the OLED panel and covering glass could be a number of shapes, potentially squared-off would make grip and control of these software keys easier, though would detract from the alleged "curved glass" aesthetic Apple is apparently going for.
The patent also hints at materials we've previously heard mentioned for this kind of hardware, including Zirconia ceramic and Sapphire glass.
A new report out of Korea claims the Apple iPhone OLED model will "all be curved", which is being interpreted as meaning it will feature a curved design across most of its exterior surfaces - most, not all, of course, as that would be silly; that would be a sphere.
"The OLED version of the new iPhone will all be curved as Apple ordered all plastic OLED - not glass - from Samsung Display. Samsung is capable of supplying a little less than 100 million units of curved OLED displays to Apple," said the report from The Korea Herald.
The mention of a plastic substrate means these are flexible OLED panel which will allow Apple to bend them into the curved bodywork shape it requires. Some of the info is a little shaky though, the source suggests Apple could implement touch controls along the phone's curved eges - a rumour we've heard before - but then immediately seems to imply that it might not happen at all.
"The upcoming iPhone may use new sensing technology, which enables the phone to respond when users touch any side of the device. But, Apple may not adopt this technology."
Right then. Good to know...I guess?
iPhone 8 Release Date, Specs & Prices: iPhone 8 Specs & Hardware
Apple is already prepping for the iPhone 8. We know this. But now we're starting to get quite a bit of information through about the handset's core, internal specs. According to reports the A11 chipset inside the iPhone 8 will be based on a 10nm process and will be built by Apple's long-standing partner, TSMC.
Here's the latest from 9to5Mac:
"Digitimes is reporting that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has begun to ‘tape out’ the A11 chip expected to power the 2017-model iPhone. Taping out is the point at which the initial design is finalized and ready to create the photomask that will be used for manufacture."
It added: "There is, though, still some way to go before the chip makes it into production. The A11 is based on a 10-nanometer process, which TSMC is still working on. The company expects its 10nm process to be certified in the final quarter of this year, to deliver samples to Apple in the first quarter of 2017 and to begin production the following quarter."
There have already been some rumours in circulation that the Galaxy S8 could pack up to 8GB of RAM onboard, but as of January 9 major memory manufacturer SK Hynix has announced its new "LPDDR4X" RAM chip which some sources say may be the one Samsung uses in its 2017 flagship.
The architecture uses two 8 Gigabit RAM modules stacked in a dual-channel configuration, equalling 64 Gigabits, aka 8GB of DRAM. The setup takes up 30% less space inside the phone shell than current LPDDR4 memory while also being 20% more battery efficient, according to SK Hynix.
Korean publication The Investor states that the chip may be destined for both Apple and Samsung's 2017 flagships; "SK hynix’s new memory chip is expected to be used in Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and Apple’s iPhone 8, which are forecast to be released in April and September, respectively, this year."
One area where Apple needs to make some big strides is to do with Siri. Apple might have been the first out the blocks with a commercial, phone-based digital assistant but Siri, despite Apple’s claims, is a long way behind the competition.
Amazon’s Alexa has now set the bar extremely high. Samsung will counter with its reportedly ultra-clever Bixby AI aboard the Galaxy S8 inside Q1 and this means Siri will have to follow suit. Plans are afoot, however, to bolster Siri’s capabilities, as noted by BGR.
“Apple is working on an ‘enhanced’ version of its Siri virtual assistant for its next generation of iPhone devices.”
Apple’s acquisition of machine learning and AI startup Turi last August will apparently help the company achieve this, bridging the current gap between Siri and other, more potent Ads like Cortana and Alexa.
iPhone 8 Release Date, Specs & Prices: iOS 11 – Expect BIG Things...
Apple releases a brand new build of its iOS platform every year and in 2017 it will be the turn of iOS 11.
This update will begin testing early in inside Q2 before getting a gold-standard release during Q3/Q4 after its official unveiling at Apple’s WWDC event.
For the last couple of editions, Apple has pushed out developer previews of iOS, giving Apple fans and developers early access to what will eventually become the defacto operating system for the proceeding 12 months after release.
Design is always one area where Apple improves things; another, is speed and performance. But I think the main area Apple will be focussing on this year is Siri.
Why? Simple: look at what Microsoft, Google and Amazon are doing in the AI space. Apple needs to counter the advancements made by Microsoft and Amazon in particular by making Siri smarter, more useful and better integrated inside a range of products.
AI will be the biggest tech trend of the next day, make no mistake about it. AI will start showing up in HDTVs, your PCs, your cars and even inside your homes. We’re only just dipping our toes in the water of what's possible with AI and we expect Apple to come back with a vastly superior Siri AI in 2017.
For me, this is the main area where I’d like to see Apple make some advancements with its software. After using Amazon Echo, Siri just feels old, remedial and not at all useful.
iPhone 8 Release Date, Specs & Prices: iPhone 8 Camera – Updates, Specs & New Features
The iPhone 7 Plus’ dual-lens camera is arguably the biggest thing to come out of Apple’s entire launch. The addition of a new CPUs, more memory and waterproofing, as well as bringing OIS to the standard iPhone 7 model are nice moves, but the headline grabbing feature was the dual-lens camera.
And like most things Apple: in order to get access to it you have to pay a big premium. In this respect, the dual-lens camera is an exclusive to the iPhone 7 plus and that is not going to change anytime soon, either.
According to reports, Apple will keep the dual-lens camera a “Plus exclusive” for 2017’s iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, providing that’s what the handsets are actually called.
Check out this research note obtained by Mac Rumors, which cites KGI Securities Ming-Chi Kuo:
“While an attractive addition for avid picture takers and professional photographers, the iPhone 7 Plus dual-camera is not a mass-market killer application yet. Along with its high cost (estimated at over US$30-40) and the necessity for Apple to enhance the added value of high-end iPhone models, we expect only high-end new iPhone models (30-40% of them) to have a dual-camera next year.”
The next update to Apple’s camera will concern the iPhone 8’s dual-lens camera; Apple will add OIS to both lens, apparently. A move that would add in more detail and help produce significantly better shots.
“We believe the focus of the dual-camera upgrade will be equipping telephoto CCM with OIS CCM, so as to significantly enhance optical and digital zoom quality,” Kuo wrote.
As of November 18, Kuo has a brand new research note issued to investors which gives further details of the next iPhone's camera spec and features. According a report on the note via MacRumors, the iPhone 8 will feature "dual-optical image stabilisation."
The current iPhone 7 Plus dual-camera sensor only features optical stabilisation (OIS) in one of its two lenses; that's the wide-angle lens. Kuo's note suggests the other lens, a telephoto lens, will also be upgraded to include its own OIS module.
"We believe Apple will add OIS function to the telephoto CCM in order to enhance the selling points of next year’s new iPhone," said Kuo's note.
"We think photo quality and optical zoom range may both improve as a result. We expect the telephoto lens will be redesigned to support OIS in the telephoto CCM, with challenges likely coming from: (1) the need to increase the image circle of the telephoto lens, which will lead to longer calibration time and a more complex assembly processes; and (2) a redesign of the telephoto lens, as an increased image circle will result in degraded photo quality around the corners."
As per earlier reports, it's believed that the 4.7in iPhone 8 will not feature a dual-camera, meaning the 5.5in iPhone 8 Plus model and the supposed third premium model with curved edge-to-edge OLED display will both feature dual-camera tech, though whether both feature the dual-OIS remains to be seen.
You can also find out what Apple’s got in store for us with iOS 11 inside our iOS 11 Primer, which covers off known-updates, expected new features and things we’d like to see included.
