iPhone 8: Everything we know
Earlier this year Apple celebrated 10 years since the release of the first iPhone, and this September the company is expected to overhaul the revolutionary handset with the release of the iPhone 8 which is quickly gearing itself up to be one of the most anticipated iPhone releases of all time.
Over the past couple of months iPhone 8 reports have been pouring in, with some speculating Apple may remove Touch ID from the front of the device due to problems integrating the required sensors into the new full-body display, with others claiming Apple will include a free pair of AirPods with all orders. From the device’s radical redesign to a possible flexible plastic OLED display, here’s everything we know about the release of Apple’s 2017 iPhone line-up…
iPhone 7s & iPhone 7s Plus
While undoubtedly the iPhone 8 will be the star of Apple’s iPhone presentation, the company is expected to unveil the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus later this year which will likely bring updates to their current iPhone 7 range. It’s speculated the two handsets will receive internal upgrades such as an improved battery, faster chips and even possibly wireless charging to accompany the iPhone 8.
Some have claimed Apple will simply call the iPhone 7s line “iPhone” in favour of a more refined branding, with the company choosing to call the iPhone 8 the “iPhone Pro” to match their iPad and iPad Pro, and MacBook and MacBook Pro.
iPhone 8
According to leaked dimensions coming from sources within Apple’s supply chain, it appears that the iPhone 8 will be smaller than the iPhone 7 Plus, yet larger than the iPhone 7, closely matching Samsung with the Galaxy S8. It’s believed this year’s iPhone release will see Apple introduce an all new device featuring a 5.8-inch display which will feature a “Function Area” that will be home to Apple’s virtual Home button that will support Touch ID through a fingerprint scanner embedded directly into the display.
While Touch ID now appears to be back on the agenda for the iPhone 8, it was believed Apple at one point was considering completely eliminating the technology from their 2017 iPhone release due to issues embedding the technology within the device’s display, with some claiming Apple would relocate the Touch ID sensor to the rear of the device.
Following on from the success of the dual camera module introduced with the iPhone 7 Plus, Apple is believed to be introducing an all new vertical camera module which will allow for picture perfect Portrait Mode imagery as well as 4K video at 60fps according to code recently discovered within HomePod firmware.
Alongside a possible “FaceDetect” facial recognition system codenamed “Pearl ID” which would allow iPhone users to unlock their devices by scanning their face, it’s believed the iPhone 8 will adopt wireless charging technology, with Apple suppliers claiming to of been contracted to manufacture GPP bridge rectifiers needed to support fast wireless charging.
Arriving within the early beta releases of iOS 11, developers have discovered Apple had secretly added a new charging tone named “engage_power.caf,” which many believe was intended to be used for wireless charging. It’s unclear if Apple will charge customers an additional fee for an iPhone charging dock or if the company will include a compatible dock with the device itself.
Reports have claimed Apple will release the iPhone 8 in Jet Black, Black, Gold and Rose Gold, removing Silver and Red from the line-up to retain a luxury boutique style of branding. Pricing for the iPhone 8 hasn’t been revealed and it’s likely we won’t know for sure what Apple will charge for the device until it’s officially announced however; some have said the iPhone 8 could be priced in excess of $1000 due to advanced technologies and higher component prices.
As with most iPhone releases it’s believed the iPhone 7s, iPhone 7s Plus and iPhone 8 will be announced during September, with the devices rolling out to the public before Christmas if Apple manages to avoid supply constraints which have been said to of been caused due to the company finalising a solution to integrate Touch ID into the display of the device.
HomePod firmware leaks iPhone 8 bezel-less design & “FaceDetect” facial recognition. https://t.co/QzTjZPiOoV
— The Apple Post (@TheApplePost) July 31, 2017