iPhone 8 price, release date, features and specs rumours: Now tipped to be iPhone X with advanced integrated sensors
Forget the iPhone 7, it's the iPhone 8 you'll be more interested in. Set for a 2017 release to celebrate the iPhone's 10th anniversary, here's what the rumours say about the iPhone 8 UK release date, features and specs.
The iPhone 7 has only been on sale for a while, but all we seem to be hearing are rumours about the iPhone 8. We think Apple might well be holding back some major updates and improvements for the iPhone 8, which will be launched on the 10th anniverary of the first iPhone. Here we round up the rumours about the iPhone 8 release date, price, features and specifications. See also: Best phones 2016.
Hang on a minute, shouldn't the next iPhone be the iPhone 7s? It still could be. Rumours suggest there will be three new iPhones, two of which are the expected iPhone 7s and 7s Plus models. The third would be the flagship, and 10th anniversary, iPhone '8'. We'd be surprised if Apple goes for that naming convention, and other rumours say it could even be called simply The iPhone, or iPhone Pro, but for now we'll stick to calling the 2017 iPhone the iPhone 8.
iPhone 8 price and release date
Latest updates: Here's a summary of the latest rumours, which could - as ever - turn out to be false:
- There will be three phones, including one codenamed 'Ferrari' (i.e. the anniversary iPhone)
- The main logic board will be in two pieces instead of the traditional one
- Apple may move the SIM tray to the bottom edge (this could be to allow room for other internal components or to include a Smart Connector)
- Wireless charging is very likely to feature, and could even have long range, up to 15ft away
- A glass back may be used instead of metal to facilitate wireless charging
- Quick charging will be supported when using a cable
- New speaker design could make the phone the thinnest ever
- It will have a 'borderless' OLED screen from Samsung
- The home button won't be physical, but will be under or built into the screen
- Laser sensor for gesture recognition
Wondering what colours the iPhone 8 will come in? We might have an answer for you
iPhone 8 release date rumours: When is the iPhone 8 coming out?
iPhone 8 UK release date: September 2017 (TBC)
Although ages away, we can fairly confidently predict the iPhone 8 release date. Assuming the annual September announcement tradition continues, the iPhone 8 release date will be in September 2017. However, 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the original iPhone launch, so we wouldn't be too surprised if Apple mixed things up a bit (it launched the SE - pictured below - in March).
It's not necessarily going to be called the iPhone 8, of course, but that's the name we're using to keep things simple.
iPhone 8, iPhone 7S, iPhone X or something else? What will the iPhone in 2017 be called?
It seems the name may have been confirmed with an Apple employee referring to the new device by the name 'iPhone 8' unprompted when speaking to Business Insider. However, there is another suggestion as Apple Insider claims that Apple could call this year's iPhone the iPhone X.
As we've mentioned, the iPhone for 2017 is slightly harder to predict because it will mark a big anniversary for the smartphone.
The latest rumours are that Apple will release three new iPhone models as part of the main lineup. This could well be the 'S' versions of the 7 and 7 Plus, and the extra 'iPhone 8', an even more premium flagship with 'revolutionary' features.
The Wall Street Journal says: "Apple plans bigger design changes for 2017, the 10th anniversary of the original iPhone. Those changes could include an edge-to-edge organic light-emitting diode, or OLED, screen and eliminating the home button by building the fingerprint sensor into the display, according to people familiar with the matter.
"At a meeting with an Apple executive, one of the company’s China-based engineers asked why this year’s model [the iPhone 7] lacked a major design change in keeping with Apple’s usual two-year cycle. The answer, one person at the meeting recalled, was that the new technology in the pipeline will take time to implement. People familiar with the matter said some features that Apple hopes to integrate into iPhones, such as curved screens, weren’t ready for this year’s models," it added.
If Apple follows the usual pattern, the iPhone 7 that launched this year will be followed by the iPhone 7S in 2017. The fact that it's 10 years since the original iPhone means this could all go out the window. Apple will want to do something special to celebrate the occasion so an 'S' model, which usually just brings small tweaks, won't suffice.
It's pretty much anyone's guess at the moment, hence, we're calling the 2017 model the iPhone 8 at the moment but it's perfectly plausible that the new phone won't conform to the traditional naming system at all. The iPhone SE (special edition) is already a thing, so perhaps Apple will go with 'iPhone Pro', iPhone Anniversary Edition' or even just 'iPhone' - although naming the iPad 3 as 'the new iPad' didn't go down too well.
A report from Nikkei suggested that in 2017 there would be three new iPhone models. It sounded as though we were in for the usual 4.7- and 5.5in models (the regular and Plus), plus a third new 'Pro' model with a 5.5in or above curved screen. Its source said the screen would be "bent on the two sides" making it sound like a Galaxy Note 7 rival. Of course, this didn't happen with the iPhone 7, though it doesn't mean we won't see a curved-screen iPhone 8.
Vote in our poll to let us know what you think Apple will name the iPhone next year.
iPhone 8 price and release date
iPhone 8 price
We're speculating for now, of course, as the iPhone 7 has only recently gone on sale. Whether Apple will introduce a price increase for the potentially special iPhone 8 is anyone's guess. However, the iPhone 7 price jumped up to £599 in the UK thanks to Brexit and we hope that it will stay the same with next year's anniversary model. However, in light of the latest leaks which suggest there will be three new iPhones, the 'anniversary' model could be an ultra-premium device that could cost more than any iPhone yet. We will just have to wait and see.
Although one analyst predicts the iPhone 8 to be the best selling model ever - with up to 150m sales - another is worried that following the anniversary edition, Apple will see a possible 10 year slump afterwards.
iPhone 8 specs and new features
If Apple does indeed do something special for the iPhone's 10th anniversary, which is ever more likely from all the leaks, the iPhone 8 will be one which fans will no doubt want to upgrade to on launch day. Could we see the biggest queues ever?
A combination of design and hardware changes will make the iPhone 8 the most radical new iPhone to date, if we are to go by the rumours and leaks.
iPhone 8 screen
Many reports are suggesting that there could be a third iPhone 8 model beyond the usual two. This more 'premium' option will be even bigger, touted at 5.8in, with a curved OLED screen. However, this may be no bigger than the current iPhone 7 Plus which is 5.5in due to the expected bezel-less design. Via MacRumours. Also, the Korean Herald reported that a source confirmed that Apple has ordered the curved screens from Samsung and that - like the screen on the Galaxy S7 Edge - it will be made from plastic and not glass. Typically glass is only used for flat screens, so this is not too surprising.
There are yet more rumours on the possibility of a 5.8in iPhone with a 'wraparound' OLED screen that has embedded sensors. Apple Insider suggests it could be the iPhone X and feature a laser sensor for things like gesture recognition.
Apple has partnered with LG in the past for iPhone displays, but LG is reportedly working on a foldable screen which it's aiming to provide to Apple in 2018.
Respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who collaborated on the above info, has now said the third OLED iPhone will have a screen size of 5.1- or 5.2in rather than something bigger than the normal Plus model.
According to a report on the Wall Street Journal, Apple is asking suppliers to make a screen better than Samsung, telling them to "submit prototype screens with better resolution than ones from Samsung". This means the iPhone 8 will have a resolution higher than Quad HD which is 2560x1440, a big jump from the iPhone 7.
There is yet more weight to the possibility of the iPhone 8 getting an OLED screen. Multinational banking company JP Morgan has come across a purchase order in Apple's most recent Securities and Exchange Commission which is thought to be for OLED panels. The order extends for a year and is valued at around $4bn.
We wanted to bring your attention to a phone which might provide a glimpse of what the iPhone 8. Xiaomi has announced the Mi Mix which is, let's face it, a stunning device. It looks like the first of a new category of phones with it's 91.3 percent screen-to-body ratio, according to the firm.
iPhone 8 price and release date
A Facebook post by Robert Scoble - a well-known tech strategist - reveals new details about the next iPhone. In the lengthy post Scoble claims to have been told that it will be "a clear piece of glass... which will put holograms on top of the real world like Microsoft HoloLens does". He also says the phone will have an OLED screen and that Apple has 600 engineers working on a next-generation 3D sensor and that the phone will have eye sensors. These will bring "a new kind of interface". He also says that you'll "pop it into a headset which has eye sensors on it, which enables the next iPhone to have a higher apparent frame rate and polygon count than a PC with a Nvidia 1080 card in it."
Plus, he says that new sources revealed we can "expect battery and antennas to be hidden around the edges of the screen, which explains how Apple will fit in some of the pieces even while most of the chips that make up a phone are in a pack/strip at the bottom of the phone."
These sound like ridiculous predictions, especially the part about the phone being transparent - battery tech is not yet good enough to make one small enough to "hide" - but if true, the iPhone 8 will be a revolution rather than the evolution we've seen with the iPhone 7 this year. We'll continue to update this article as new information appears, but here's how things stand right now.
This concept image via ConceptsiPhone shows what an edge-to-edge OLED display iPhone might look like:
iPhone 8 price and release date
Despite all this talk of OLED screens, BRG suggests that only one of the iPhone 8 modes will use the technology. This is reportedly down to the supply not meeting the huge requirements plus the fact Apple has done decent things with LCD screens.
Jony Ive has wanted to introduce an iPhone which resembles a single sheet of glass for a long time and the 2017 anniversary iPhone could be the one. It's rumoured that at least one iPhone in 2017 will use a glass body, according to Apple supplier Catcher Technology. Glass on the front and back would make it like a hugely updated version of the iPhone 4S.
This, combined with the rumour that the iPhone 8 will sport an edge-to-edge OLED screen makes things rather interesting. And we're not just talking the side edges, as Apple may even go as far as to do away with the top and bottom bezels. The physical home button would be gone and the TouchID fingerprint scanner would be housed within the screen.
A patent filed back in March 2015 states: "The man-machine interface device comprises an electronic display apparatus that is capable of presenting graphic text, images, icons, and other data typically shown on a screen, while further including a transparent finger touch sensor region that is seated above the display apparatus."
A patent has now been awarded for a 'capacitive fingerprint sensor including an electrostatic lens'. This gets around the problem of an all-glass display and no physical home button with capacitive sensing technology working through gaps in space allowing a Touch ID component to operate below the iPhone's screen.
Yet another patent points towards a bezel-free iPhone 8. It details a display technology that uses pixels capable of self-lighting (like OLEDs) arranged on a flexible surface with gaps in between. The gaps mean Apple could integrate things like sensors into the display negating the need for bezels.
The concept video shown below is from DeepMind and shows what an iPhone would look like with an edge-to-edge display. And it looks pretty cool.
No home button
A new patent award to Apple is further indication, some might say proof, that the iPhone 8 will ditch the home button for a system which placed the fingerprint sensing technology underneath the screen. Named a 'capacitive fingerprint sensor including an electrostatic lens', it means Apple is looking into a fingerprint sensor which can work through various layers of the display.
iPhone 8 price and release date
Another patent, via Apple Insider, shows that we the iPhone 8 might actually look like the ambitous concept above. With not only the home button moving to the screen, Apple will also need to tackle the light sensor. Well the below patent called 'Electronic Devices With Display-Integrated Light Sensors' will do exactly that.
The patent explains that having a light sensor can result in an increase in the size and weight of the device so "it would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved electronic devices with light sensors and displays."
iPhone 8 price and release date
As pointed out by Patently Apple, the firm has filed and been granted patents which may well be used on the 2017 iPhone. They suggest a curved-glass design and also that the sides of the phone could be used for virtual active buttons. For example, this could be used for certain controls when the camera app is in use. If true, the phone would rival Samsung's edge screen features.
iPhone 8 price and release date
iPhone 8 price and release date
There were also some rumours we heard about the iPhone 7's screen that never made it to fruition. It's possible that they could see daylight with the iPhone 8.
Economic Daily News speculated that the iPhone 7 could feature a 3D display, and one that doesn't require the use of those annoying 3D glasses. The website claimed at the time that Apple supply chain partner TPK is working on a project that could produce a glasses-free 3D display, though we're not holding out much hope for this as its been done before (remember the LG Optimus 3D?) and has never done well.
There were also some rumours to suggest that the iPhone 7 could have a sidewall display, similar to that found on the Galaxy S7 edge and Note 7. This came from an Apple patent that was published in 2015. The patent hints at a future iPhone with a display that extends onto the sides of the device, providing interactive or touch sensitive portions that give access to slide-to-unlock functionality, music player controls, messaging readout, called ID, system controls and more.
One of Apple's partners, Japan Display, is working in flexible an foldable screens similar to Samsung and LG. Whether this will end up in the iPhone 8 remains to be seen - it's unlikely but still interesting. Apple has plenty of patents describing bendable and folding devices, according to TechnoBuffalo.
More details on the screen tech include that Apple is supposedly working on a new generation of 3D Touch. According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the firm will make it from a thin film in order to introduce enhanced sensitivity - via AppleInsider.
iPhone 8 price and release date
Above concept by Michael Shanks
iPhone 8 design
The latest rumour on the design suggests that Apple will forge the iPhone 8 from steel. This is backed up by both CNET and Apple Insider.
Rumours claim that the next iPhone could have a ceramic back like the One Plus X. This could make wireless charging easier to implement , but it could also make the iPhone 7 look rather different. The rumour came from Business Korea, but there's no real evidence to support the claim. There is, however, a rendering to give an example of what it could look like (below).
iPhone 8 price and release date
Months later, the Wall Street Journal reported that Jony Ive wants the iPhone 'to appear like a single sheet of glass'. Related rumours say the new iPhone will use a glass back similar to rivals such as the Xperia Z5.
Allen Horng, chairman and chief executive of Catcher Technology, a key supplier said: "As far as I know, only one [iPhone] model will adopt glass casing next year. I don't think this move will have an impact on Catcher's revenue as glass casing still needs a durable metal frame which requires advanced processing technology and would not be cheaper than the current model."
Prior to the iPhone 7 launch we heard rumours that its camera would be flush against the back of the phone rather than protruding as it is currently on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. This wasn't the case, however, so it's a design change that could make its way to the iPhone 8.
We now have more information on the possible iPhone 8 design with Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities back once again saying that it's likely the phone will have a glass front and back similar to the iPhone 4. Kuo added that Apple might use stainless steel for the more premium models.
If you're wondering what colours the iPhone 8 will come in then we might have an answer via Macotakara. The Japanese site claims the smartphone will come in an additional red colour which will join the existing Black, Jet Black, Silver, Gold and Rose Gold options.
iPhone 8 price and release date
iPhone 8 camera
Speaking of the camera, we can expect Apple to continue to offer a dual-lens setup, although whether it's in the same form as the iPhone 7 Plus is another matter. A source has told Business Insider that Apple is planning on integrating augmented reality into the camera app. Sony has offered an AR feature for a long time but Apple's will supposedly be around object and face detection. The source also added that Apple will make its AR tech available to developers with an SDK.
iPhone 8 processor
The iPhone 8 is thought to include an Apple A11 processor built on a 10nm process. Some leaked documents, posted on Chinese blog cnBeta suggest the processor may be on one of two mainboard parts, necessitated by the bigger screen and thinner bezels, which means less room inside.
iPhone 8 price and release date
iPhone 8 wireless charging
It's thought that at least one new iPhone for 2017 will feature wireless charging for the first time.
Back in January 2016 Apple was said to be working on wireless charging behind the scenes, but we always knew that this special type of wireless charging that doesn't require users to place the phone on a charging mat wasn't expected to arrive until 2017.
One of the reasons the iPhone doesn't currently offer wireless inductive charging is because the technology has never previously worked through aluminium. But Qualcomm has revealed that its latest wireless breakthrough now does work through metal, so it's finally a possibility for Apple.
More weight has been added to this wireless charging theory with evidence that Apple is working with Energous. According to VentureBeat, upon studying Energous' latest prospectusit has unearthed a section directly referencing Apple: the subsection is "entitled Industry Certifications, and along with the expected listings like Underwriters Laboratory and FCC approval, is a final, curious inclusion: Apple compliance testing. Apple is the only company singled out in a list that otherwise contains industry-wide and legally required certifications." VentureBeat comes to the obvious conclusion that the WattUp reference design in question would undergo compliance testing at Apple only if Apple was evaluating its use in one of its portable devices.
What's interesting about this specific charging technology is that it doesn't depend on a wireless charging mat or dock, but rather the signal can travel up to 15ft, and can charge up to 12 devices at once.
There's more weight to the iPhone 8 having wireless charging thanks to a report on Nikkeiwhich cites an industry source who says that Foxconn is making wireless charging modules for the anniversary device. It's a little up in the air whether it will make it into the device, though.
"But whether the feature can eventually make it into Apple's updated devices will depend on whether Foxconn can boost the yield rate to a satisfactory level later on," the source said.
We've mentioned a possible glass design a number of times and this adds weight to the wireless charging feature as metal won't allow for it. Further info from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, via MacRumors, suggests this is the case (pun unintended) and that Pegatron will be the exclusive supplier of the wireless charger.
"We believe one of the reasons why new iPhones will switch from metal casing to glass casing is to support wireless charging. In order to ensure a superior performance, we believe it is most appropriate for EMS suppliers to develop and make the wireless charger because then a comprehensive test can be conducted. As Hon Hai needs to deploy most resources to develop and produce OLED iPhone, we expect Pegatron will be the exclusive supplier of the wireless charger," said Kuo.
It's unclear at this point whether all the iPhone 8 models will have wireless charging, but Kuo suggests at least some will and in 2018 it will be more widely available. He has more recently added that the 4.7in model will get the feature so we expect the whole range will.
iPhone 8 home button
The iPhone 8 will reportedly not have a home button. Or not a physical one, at least. A report by Bloomberg mentions that as part of the phone's major redesign - which will focus on screen tech - Apple will ditch a physical home button. The reason is unclear, but it would lead to a sleeker look.
If Apple does remove the home button, it stands to reason that Touch ID will have to be implemented elsewhere. A rumour sparked by yet another Apple patent is that the new iPhone's Touch ID fingerprint sensor, which is usually situated beneath the Home button, could be built-in to the entire display, eliminating the need for a Home button and making room for a larger display without enlarging the overall size of the smartphone.
These rumours seemed pretty far fetched to begin with, but it might just happen. Sonavation recently announced that its found a way to insert ultrasonic biometric sensors underneath a Gorilla Glass display, with it still being able to read a users fingerprints.
iPhone 8 price and release date
The newly developed tech is "well suited for through-the-glass fingerprinting and specifically architected to deliver advanced security and ease-of-integration into mobile and IoT devices” Sonavation’s CTO Rainer Schmitt said.
The company claims that it can even do one better than the existing Touch ID (and most other fingerprint scanners on the market) by being able to scan fingerprints on a finger that's wet, dirty or oily. Though it's not clear which devices will be the first to feature this new technology, but we assume it'd either be the iPhone or a flagship Android smartphone.
iPhone 8 retina scanner
Biometric features such as facial recognition or iris scanning are a possibility for the iPhone 8. If the latter is true, the retina scanner could complement or replace Touch ID, though replacing it is a clear possibility if Apple does as is expected and removes the home button.
This is backed up by Kuo of KGI Securities who says Apple will include upgraded sensors for biometrics like facial recognition. This would be alongside the new Touch ID sensor which looks like it will be integrated into the display.
iPhone 8 security
The iPhone 8 could capture the fingerprint and possibly photos of a thief who stole it. AppleInsider has reported on a patent filed back in April which describes a way of storing biometric data when an unauthorised user is detected. It could be used to identify the person responsible and in turn lead to information which could be used to recover the stolen device. It's unclear exactly how Apple could use the technology, but the patent also talks about machine learning, so it could be intelligent enough to figure out that it's simply your child attempting to unlock your phone and play a game.
iPhone 8 built-in e-SIM
Another touted feature for the latest iPhone that didn't see daylight and may be reserved for the iPhone 8 is that it will have an e-SIM. Recent reports suggest that it could be the end of days for the traditional SIM card, with a possible introduction of a simpler option. An e-SIM is an electronic SIM card which would replace the physical SIMs used today and instead will opt for a virtual embedded equivalent. Rumours suggest that both Apple and Samsung are in talk with the GSMA (organisation that represents the interest of mobile operators) to use a standardised e-SIM in future handsets.
What are the benefits of having an e-SIM? First things first, it'll make switching carriers easy and should allow for more flexible roaming. The idea is that with a standardised e-SIM, you'll be able to make a call and switch operators without having to insert a specific SIM card. This idea translates to roaming too, as it'll be much easier to switch to a local network if you're looking to spend a long period of time in a particular country.
You can also wave goodbye to SIM adaptors! If you've ever had to go from a nano-SIM device to a micro-SIM device, you'll know exactly what we mean.
iPhone 8 reversible USB charger
One rumour circulating the web is that a future iPhone will come with a new iPhone charger, with a Lightning connector on one end and a new reversible USB connector on the other end.
Way back in August 2014 a video of a reversible USB charger emerged on YouTube, which you can watch below. We're still waiting for it to happen.
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