Apple announced the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus last September. They were beautiful, but not without controversy. No headphone jack — and no wireless charging. And that edge-to-edge display? Everyone has to wait. Apple will unveil the forthcoming major iPhone update, presumably named the iPhone 8, is already burdened with big on September 12 at 1 p.m. EST, but the internet is already speculating what the iPhone 8 will be like. Here’s what we know so far.
Apple is expected to announce three new iPhones: two with LCD displays and one with a high-end OLED display. The two LCD display models will likely be updates on iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and could be called the iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus. These two devices will likely come in 4.7- and 5.5-inch models and boast incremental improvements over the the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, such as improved camera systems and faster processors.
The most exciting of the three, naturally, is Apple’s next-generation high-end iPhone with an OLED display. For background: most high-end smartphones, like the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and LG V30, are switching to OLED because they produce more vivid colors and have better contrast than LCD displays; they’re also more energy efficient. There’s a lot of speculation about this smartphone’s name. It could simply be the “iPhone 8”; some speculate it could be the “iPhone X,” as it’s the iPhone’s 10-year anniversary. Or it could be called the “iPhone Edition” (fancy!).
As for specs, here’s what we expect from the pro-edition iPhone 8:
Infinity screen. The iPhone 8 would look vastly different from its predecessors. Its bezel would be all-but-naught, replaced by a glimmering edge-to-edge display.
No more Home button. With the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, Apple significantly altered the home button, replacing it with a pressure-sensitive fingerprint sensor. With the iPhone 8, Apple could remove the home button altogether, instead building it directly into the display. Expect the camera to be built into the display as well.
Touch ID might be gone. Apple will reportedly ditch the fingerprint sensor on the iPhone 8. If this is the case, you may rely heavily on facial recognition to open your unlocked smartphone. Or you’ll have to plug in an old-fashioned pass code.
Thin glass body. Instead of the aluminum back that recent iPhones had, the iPhone could revert to a glass back like the iPhone 4. This would allow for a super-thin form-factor (how thin is anyone’s guess), and a reasonably durable one.
Curved edges. There are rumors that the iPhone 8 will have a large OLED display with curved edges. If so, the iPhone 8 might have its own set preset apps that respond to touch gestures. Samsung’s Galaxy S7 Edge has something similar, allowing owners quick access to certain apps and to see notifications along the edges of the screen.
Power. The new phones will likely have a new beefed-up processor, likely named A11, that will increase power and battery life. It will also likely run iOS 11.
Wireless charging. Expect the iPhone 8 to be able to charge wireless (Qi compatible). There are also rumors that the iPhone 8 will be able to charge wirelessly from up to 15 feet away from its charger — no contact necessary. It’s not expected that the iPhone 8 will ship a charging pad, unfortunately — you’ll have to buy one separately.
Waterproof. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were the first Apple smartphones to be water resistant. The iPhone 8 will be even more so. Expect it to have an IP68 rating, meaning you should be able to submerge it under water (briefly).
Storage. The smallest storage option on the iPhone 7 is 32GB. Expect Apple to make the 64GB the smallest storage option for the iPhone 8. The highest storage option will likely be 256GB.
Release date. September 2017 for the two LCD models. There are rumblings the the pro-edition OLED iPhone might not ship until early 2018. (Rumor has it that Apple is having trouble sourcing enough OLED displays.)
Cost. The two standard LCD models should be competitively priced, between $650 and $800. The high-end OLED model could go for over a grand.
Further Reading:
iPhone 8 (2017): Everything We Know, MacRumors
iPhone 8 | News, Specs, Features, Pricing, Release Dates and More, 9to5mac
The iPhone 8: Here’s What Our Readers Want
If you could create the perfect smartphone… Read the Story
