IPHONE 8 RUMORS: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY IPHONE

It's a good thing for Apple, then, that the rumors brewing about the iPhone 8 suggest that Apple has something big in the works. Apple's next phone will reportedly feature a completely new design with an all-glass enclosure, an OLED display (finally), a revamped Touch ID feature, new augmented-reality capabilities and wireless charging. Apple could even roll out three new iPhones, packing the major features into a high-end version that might seriously break the bank.

Here's everything you need to know about the iPhone 8 and what you can expect.

Latest News and Rumors (Updated May 19)

• iPhone 8 on Schedule: After several reports that the newest iphone might not arrive until October or November or latest, in some cases — some good news is starting to emerge about the iPhone 8's launch. Reports out of China suggest that Apple is on track to roll out its new phones in the fall just like it always does.

• An Expensive Phone: Analysts expect the price of the iPhone 8 to increase from the $649 starting price for the iPhone 7. But at least one report suggests that the high-end iPhone 8 to start at $999. At least Apple might throw in some free AirPods, if one rumor pans out.

• A Final Design: After all the leaks and renders, we may finally have a firm idea of what the iPhone 8 looks like, thanks to BGR, which has a photo of what the site says is a physical mockup based on leaked iPhone 8 schematics.

WHEN IS THE IPHONE 8'S RELEASE DATE?

Right now, expect Apple to stick to its usual release schedule: a September press event. What happens at that point is anybody's guess though.

iPhone 8 Concept by TechconfigurationsApple is expected to release three new iPhone models this year — more on that below — with more modest upgrades to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus coming in September followed by a feature-rich iPhone 8 later in the year. Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities is the latest Apple watcher to predict this approach, citing the many custom components Apple plans to include in the iPhone 8, but sources such as Digitimes, iGeneration and Macokatara have predicted much the same thing. Deustche Bank warns of an even longer delay, saying there's a possibility Apple may have to wait until 2018 to release an iPhone 8.

However, if you're holding out hope of getting your hands on an iPhone 8 this fall, allow Digitimes to ease your worries, as it reports that the three new iPhones will be unveiled in September followed by an October launch. An analyst report by Morgan Stanley that Seeking Alpha obtained reports no delays in the supply chain, with iPhone production expected to start on time for a fall release.

What Are the Rumored Specs of the iPhone 8?

Model	Screen Size	CPU	RAM	Base Storage	Max Storage
iPhone 7s	4.7 inches	A11 Fusion	2GB	32GB	256GB
iPhone 7s Plus	5.5 inches	A11 Fusion	3GB	32GB	256GB
iPhone 8 or X	Either 5.2 or 5.8 inches	A11 Fusion	3GB	64GB	256GB

The most noteworthy spec on the iPhone 8 will be that display, as Apple should finally replace the LCD screens it's used on recent models with an OLED panel. Reports from the likes of Bloomberg suggest that Apple has lined up suppliers for OLED panels, even as it deals with a display shortage. It looks like Samsung will initially supply Apple with OLED panels, while other suppliers step up production, the Wall Street Journal reports. As a result, the switch to OLED from LCD may only impact one of the new iPhone models, with the iPhone 7s and 7s Plus seeing more modes upgrades, according to a report from Japanese blog Macotakara.

 

What Features Will Appear in the iPhone 8?

• An All-Glass Design: Rather than rely on a metal case, the next iPhone could come in an all-glass enclosure, a rumor from a Ming-Chi Kuo research note first picked up by 9to5Mac. (Presumably, this would be the 5.8- or 5.1-inch model, depending on which rumor pans out.) The result could be a smartphone with a continuous glass case that adds a level of elegance and design appeal.

The move to a glass design — which resurfaced in a Digitimes report — would be a return to form for Apple, which used glass in the iPhone 4 and 4S before transitioning to metal with the iPhone 5 after customers suffered ugly cracks after a spill. Hopefully this time around, Apple can offer stronger glass to prevent those problems. Reportedly, Apple is going to use a stainless steel frame for at least one version of the phone, according to reports from both Kuo and Digitimes. A recent Macotakara report also touted a glass-and-steel design for the iPhone 8.

Apple may turn back the design clock even further, if a report in China's ETNews is to be believed, with sources claiming the iPhone 8 could adopt a curved back — also known as a water-drop design — as an homage to the original iPhone on its tenth birthday.

• A Redesigned Fingerprint Sensor: If the iPhone's display is going to stretch from one end of the phone to another, Apple's going to have to find a new place to put the home button and the Touch ID sensor that live beneath it. Initially, it was thought that would be under the glass whether Apple used one of Synaptics' new optical fingerprint sensors or its own technology, as suggested by a Digitimes report.

• Facial Recognition Technology: Another feature that would allow Apple to ditch a physical TouchID button is the addition of facial recognition features to the iPhone 8. According to a research note from JP Morgan's Rod Hall that MacRumors obtained, Apple could add a 3D laser scanner to the front of its phone to give you another way to unlock the device. A Times of Israel report says that Apple has bought facial recognition firm RealFace, whose software could fuel that technology; it could also aid in features such as identifying your best photos using facial recognition capabilities.

• An AR-Ready Phone: Apple has made no secret of the fact that it's bullish on augmented reality, so AR-friendly features could find their way into the next iPhone.

Specifically, Business Insider has reported that there's an effort underway at Apple to integrate AR capabilities into the Camera app in the next version of iOS. According to that report, you would point your iPhone camera at a real-world object or person, with the app able to recognize it. Subsequently, Bloomberg has reported that the iPhone should gain AR-friendly features as part of a company-wide effort to incorporate the technology into its products.

Pulling that off will require some hardware changes, which could mean a 3D camera sensor headed for the iPhone 8, according to a separate Business Insider report. That's backed up by claims from UBS analyst Steven Milunovich who suggests Apple has a dedicated team in Israel working on an AR-related project that could find its way into the next iPhone. Barron's Asia reports that Himax Technologies is going to supply Apple with 3D sensing components that could support the facial recognition and AR features rumored for the next iPhone while the Wall Street Journal notes that other 3D sensor suppliers could be involved in the iPhone 8 supply chain. 

MORE: IPHONE 8 VS GALASY S8. CLASH OF TITAN.

• AI Improvements: Apple has been pretty upfront about its feelings toward artificial intelligence, with CEO Tim Cook saying AI will be a huge focus for the iPhone Specifically, Cook told Nikkei Asian Review that artificial intelligence will help with everything from finding your parked car to recommending what music to stream. Intriguingly, Cook also suggested that AI could increase the iPhone's battery life, though he didn't provide any details.

• Wireless Charging: Moving to an all-glass design would make it easier for the phone to support wireless charging, which is exactly what Ming-Chi Kuo forecasts will happen. Nikkei Asian Review says that Foxconn, the company that puts the iPhone together has tested out wireless charging modules while Digitimes reports that a Taiwanese firm that makes components for fast wireless charging is now part of Apple's supply chain for the next iPhone.