Apple is going to introduce the new iPhone 8 very soon, and once it is presented, it will mark a 10th anniversary of the iPhone. We expect the new device to come with features such as an edge-to-edge display, wireless charging and this time to be without a home button.
iPhone 8 Release Date 2017
The Cupertino based tech giant has been sticking to the schedule, and they usually unveil their phones in early September on a Tuesday or Wednesday. It is always after IFA, a technology conference in Germany which starts on September 1. This means that the new iPhone 8 will arrive on September 5 or 6. If everything goes to plan, the new gadget will go on sale two weeks after that, with the pre-orders opening seven days before it hits the market.
However, there are some rumors which indicate that Apple is going to postpone the release. According to Japanese news site MacOtakara, we might not be able to buy a new smartphone until October or even November.
The Name
The company has followed a predictable pattern. It would release a new phone with major innovation and design changes one year, and a new improved “S” model would follow next year. Following this logic, the new phone should be called the iPhone 7S.
However, this may not be the case this year because the iPhone 7 looked a lot like iPhone 6 and if the tech giant chooses to introduce a brand-new design, it will not be called the 7S. In that case, iPhone 8 makes the most sense. On the other hand, since it is the 10th anniversary of the phone, it might be called the iPhone X.
iPhone 8 Price
There is no doubt that the new flagship is going to be the most expensive one so far. The price is expected to go north of $1,000 according to Fast Company.
iPhone Features
In the last three years, Apple has released phones with a 4.7-inch and larger models branded “Plus” with a 5.5-inch screen. According to various reports, they should release a new high-end phone this year. The new one could have an OLED, unlike the LCD which is featured on the current phones. OLED improves brightness, viewing angles and the Samsung Galaxy S7 comes with that kind of tech.
Edge-to-Edge Display
Apple’s design chief Jony Ive has longed to produce an iPhone that is going to look like a piece of glass with the screen covering the entire front side. His wishes may come true with the iPhone 8 which is going to feature a black glass frame instead of the aluminum one, and it will have a screen which bends around the sides. With this, the display will be bigger, but the size of the actual phone will remain the same. However, if this is to be done, then the front camera has to be embedded into the screen.
No Home Button
After ten years, Apple will ditch the home button. Advanced pressure-detection tech has already been introduced with 3D Touch, and the home button on the iPhone 7 vibrated rather than it clicked. Furthermore, when you pick up the phone, the screen will wake up immediately without you having to click anything. Touch ID will be embedded into the display.
Touch Bar
Since there is no longer a home button, a set of “function” keys similar to the Touch Bar on the new MacBook laptop can be added. It would include shortcuts for answering calls, sending messages and accessing some apps.
iOS 11
Apple has unveiled the latest software in June, and it will be used in the new device. Some of the iOS 11 features are peer-to-peer Apple Pay, an improved Control Centre, redesigned Siri and a do-not-disturb-while-driving mode.
Wireless Charging
It is hard to create a battery which will last more than a day, and the progress is plodding. To compromise, the tech companies are using fast charging, but Apple could allow wireless charging. When they decided to remove the headphone jack from the iPhone 7, it meant that users could not charge their phone and listen to music via wired headphones at the same time. It would make sense if Apple were to remove a second part of the equation. For example, Apple Watch already uses charging when you place the device on an inductive pad, but to offer true wireless charging which beams power from the socket would really be something else.
