As Apple prepares to take the stage on June 5 to kick off the WWDC 2017, rumors persist there will be a sneak peek of the iPhone 8 and naturally what to expect from the handset dominates the next iPhone conversations lately. Below are some of the minimum expectations:
Three models to unbox
Analysts, foremost of them Ming-chi Kuo of KGI Securities, have been saying that Apple plans to rollout three new iPhones this 2017. The one that piques the most interest is the iPhone 8 as speculations are rife it will be a huge departure from the industrial design seen in the last three instalments. It will boast of an all-glass design that is reminiscent of the iPhone 4/4S era but obviously employing of a modern touch with stainless chassis.
But according to Kuo, Apple will not be discarding the form factor that was first seen with the iPhone 6 as alongside the all-glass the tech giant will also make available the iPhone 7S series. The look and design will easily remind of the iPhone 7 but both the iPhone 7S and 7S will come packed with updated component.
Faster, smoother and smarter
Business Insider said the next iPhone models will significantly improve from the last versions as the main engine is the 10-nanometer A11 chip with 3GB of RAM support that will apply across the board. Rumors also indicate that Apple plans to enhance Siri's capabilities by developing a separate chip to power the personal digital assistant.
This is in line with the recent hint from Apple CEO Tim Cook that starting with the 2017 iPhones, artificial intelligence or AI and augmented reality or AR will gradually become key feature offerings of the iOS flagship smartphones. These enhancements, of course, will be hardwired with iOS 11 that will be revealed next week.
Larger all-screen display but smaller profile
The latest renders pointed to by MacRumors further supported the belief that the iPhone is an all-screen device with screaming display of 5.8-inch but a form factor that is smaller than the iPhone 7 Plus and Galaxy S8 Plus. Also, "Apple's redesigned handset will be slightly thicker than the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 but not as thick as the Galaxy S8," the report claimed.
And since the screen occupies much for the device front panel, gone will be the iconic Home button and Touch ID fingerprint sensor will be embedded with the glass display.
Camera changes
The next iPhone is said to include dual camera on all models. In the iPhone 8, the rear camera will have a vertical orientation and the front camera stands to get the same dual camera treatment. But it remains unclear if Apple will implement megapixel bumps on the next iPhone.
Other enhancements and label
Leaked schematics and renders also indicated the 2017 iPhones will have wireless charging capabilities, a flagship smartphone feature found on high-end Android devices for some time now. And to mark the 10th anniversary of the brand, the most premium of the new models is said to be called the iPhone X.
Release date and pricing
Kuo said that due to the radical changes that Apple will deliver with the iPhone 8, production of the device was plagued by components supply shortage and low output. He warned that while the device will be introduced in September the actual release date will not happen until October or November 2017. And iPhone 8 will not be cheap, the starting price to start at $999.
