2017 will mark the 10th anniversary of the iPhone and Apple has something major planned to celebrate the occasion. We've got a month or so to go until the launch of the iPhone 8, but because of Apple's ambitious plans for the device, there are already an abundance of rumors hinting at the impressive features coming in the 2017 iPhone.
Apple tested more than 10 prototype iPhone models, leading to a lot of mixed rumors floating around, but the general design and the features we can expect have mostly been nailed down, including in leaks from Apple itself. The iPhone 8 is expected to feature a radical redesign, with an edge-to-edge display that does away with the top and bottom bezels where features like the Touch ID fingerprint sensor and the front-facing camera are housed. Instead, rumors suggest Touch ID will either be built into the display or eliminated entirely in favor of facial recognition technology, which Apple is confirmed to be working on. Either way, there will be no physical Home button on the iPhone 8 and no bezels aside from a small area for the front-facing camera. With an edge-to-edge design, the iPhone 8 may be similar in size to the 4.7-inch iPhone, but with a display the size of the 5.5-inch iPhone. Rumors suggest it will feature a 5.8-inch display with 5.15 inches of usable area, with the rest dedicated to virtual buttons that will replace the existing Home button. The display itself is said to be a flexible plastic OLED rather than an LCD, allowing Apple to introduce a thinner device that consumes less power and offers a better display with higher contrast ratio and more true to life colors. It will feature a slightly curved 2.5D display that's similar to the display used in the iPhone 7. As for the body, Apple is finally moving away from the aluminum used in the iPhone 5, 5s, 6, 6s, 7, and SE, and will instead adopt a glass body that's similar to the body that was used for the iPhone 4. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the glass will be built around a polished stainless steel frame that's similar in design to the Apple Watch. Other models will also feature glass, but with an aluminum frame.
WHAT WILL BE NEW?
Rumours and leaks have so far suggested the new iPhone 8 will feature a giant AMOLED edge-to-edge display which will spread across the entire front of the phone.
This new screen will allow Apple to make their new smartphone physically smaller whilst including a large display.
A super-fast processor, wireless charging and new dual-camera are also expected to feature.
It's also thought Apple may be planning to embed the fingerprint sensor under the screen avoiding the issues Samsung users currently face with its rear-mounted scanner.
Improved battery life and new colour schemes could be coming with a recent leak suggesting the iPhone 8 could come in gloss white.
This new screen will allow Apple to make their new smartphone physically smaller whilst including a large display.
A super-fast processor, wireless charging and new dual-camera are also expected to feature.
It's also thought Apple may be planning to embed the fingerprint sensor under the screen avoiding the issues Samsung users currently face with its rear-mounted scanner.
Improved battery life and new colour schemes could be coming with a recent leak suggesting the iPhone 8 could come in gloss white.
EXPECTED FEATURES
- 5.8" OLED display
- Faster A11 processor
- Glass body
- Edge-to-edge display
- Facial Recognition, perhaps replacing Touch ID
- No Home button
- Wireless charging
- Three models - One OLED, two standard
