Apple fans were delighted when the tech giant made 32GB the base storage with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. The 2016 flagship iPhones were available in 32GB, 128GB, and 256GB variants. People always want more storage on their devices to be able to carry more photos, videos, and other media. A new report from China claims that Apple will double the iPhone 8 storage options compared to the iPhone 7.
These are the new iPhone 8 storage options
Chinese tipster GeekBar said in a Weibo post that there would be three iPhone 8 storage options. The Cupertino company would make 64GB the base model. If you want a little more storage, you can go for the 256GB version. Apple will also launch a 512GB iPhone 8 model for power users. It means the 10th anniversary iPhone will have more internal storage than most MacBooks.
So, what might have prompted Apple to double the iPhone 8 storage options compared to the iPhone 7? The resolution of photos and videos is increasingly getting better. 4K movies demand far more storage than 720p content. As smartphones become the primary device for media consumption, users tend to carry a lot of media content on their smartphones.
Also, the iPhone 8 is said to have more exciting camera features and augmented reality capabilities, which would demand further storage. GeekBar has a decent track record, but we suggest you take this report with a pinch of salt. Apple hasn’t confirmed anything yet. However, we wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out to be true because the company already offers the new iPad Pro with 512GB storage.
iPhone 8 to have 3GB RAM
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has confirmed previously that the iPhone 8 would be available in 64GB and 256GB options, though he hasn’t said anything about the 512GB model yet. Kuo claims the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7S Plus would feature 3GB RAM while the smaller iPhone 7S would offer 2GB RAM. GeekBar confirmed in their Weibo post that the 10th-anniversary model would pack 3GB RAM.
GeekBar revealed that Apple would be sourcing the NAND flash memory modules from different suppliers depending on the capacity. SanDisk and Toshiba will supply the 64GB and 256GB chips. The 512GB chips will be sourced from SK Hynix and Samsung. It’s the first time SanDisk’s name has appeared as a supplier of the iPhone 8 NAND modules.
New iPhones to be unveiled on Sept.12
Citing carrier sources, Mac4Ever claimed that Apple was planning to hold the iPhone 8 unveiling event on September 12th. The tech giant will likely send out media invites for the September event in the next few days. The Sept.12 date makes sense. It’s in line with Apple’s traditional launch cycle. Mac4Ever added that the new iPhones would be available for pre-order on Sept.15, and go on sale in key markets on Sept.22.
With this launch schedule, Apple might be looking to target Samsung’s newly announced Galaxy Note 8. The Note 8 shipments are set to start on September 15. Anticipation for the iPhone 8, and the fact that it would ship only a week after Note 8, could affect the purchase decisions of a lot of potential Note 8 buyers. Last year, Apple had launched the iPhone 7 on Sept.7 and started shipping them on Sept.16.
The Cupertino company is also rumored to launch the third-generation Apple Watch at the same event. According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the Apple Watch Series 3 would be available in LTE and non-LTE variants. The LTE version will allow users to stream music and download apps even when the Watch is not paired with an iPhone. Kuo believes the new Watch models would look similar to the current devices.
The biggest iPhone design overhaul in years
Besides the iPhone 8, we will get to see two other phones that will be iterative updates to the current models. Likely to be called iPhone 7S and 7S Plus, these two models would look similar to their predecessors. But they will get some important upgrades such as an A11 chipset and wireless charging technology. All the three iPhones are expected to have a glass back panel to facilitate wireless charging.
The iPhone 8 will get a much-needed design overhaul. The iPhones have retained the same design for three years. The 10th anniversary iPhone will have a bezel-less OLED display with a top cutout for the front camera, ear speaker, and other sensors. The home button is gone for good. The phone’s rear dual cameras will have a vertical orientation, though the iPhone 7S Plus will have horizontal dual cameras on the back.
The anniversary model will be Apple’s most expensive smartphone till date, with a rumored price tag of more than $1,000. The tech giant will add exciting new features such as a 3D infrared sensor for facial recognition, augmented reality, a SmartCam, and wireless charging capabilities. According to Korea Herald, the facial recognition technology on the iPhone 8 will be able to recognize your face and unlock the device “in the millionth of a second.” All the three iPhones debuting this year will run the latest A11 chipset.
