2017 could be yet another massive year for Apple, as not only will it yet again release a new version of its iPhone, but that iPhone, in particular, will be the 10th in a long line of successful smartphones. So, with what is rumored to be called the iPhone 8, we could see Apple take some huge decisions, that would not only shape Apple’s fortunes for the future, but also those of the entire smartphone industry.
iPhone 8 – What to Expect
As of yet, there has been absolutely no confirmation from Apple about the iPhone 8, not even a nod and a wink! However, this has not stopped fans from hoping that Apple will, in fact, skip the currently being rumored device the iPhone 7 and jump straight to the iPhone 8.
However, some analysts have predicted that Apple will not go down this route, instead, it will focus on this year’s device and use it as a proving ground for what may come in 2017. Furthermore, some analysts are in their infinite wisdom, already predicting that the iPhone 8 will be the best seller, however, I am sure that they are choosing to forget that Samsung will have a huge say in who takes that particular crown.
So, moving on let’s have a look at what the current state of the rumor mill is, what new and amazing delights may we find on the iPhone 8 according to those who like to talk about these things regularly.
Samsung OLED Display
Yes, you read that correctly, it does say “Samsung OLED Display” and it appears that Samsung has begun to ramp up the production of them. And according to Asian news site Nikkei, Samsung plans to have increased its production of them by over 50 percent by the end of this year. The report by the news site goes on to say that this ramp up in production is due to Apple placing a massive order with the Korean behemoth.
It seems as though Apple plans to ditch its current LCD technology, in favor of the Samsung built OLED screens. The time-frame for a launch of the iPhone 8 using this technology has been September 2017, but other rumors have suggested a later date of, sometime in 2018.
Edge-to-Edge Display
Running contrary to the previous rumor is this one about the iPhone 8 supposedly having a complete edge-to-edge display. Of the two, this is the older and the concept of a wrap-around display is nothing new. I actually wrote about this last week here on Valuewalk see here, designed and made from curved plastic, this will give the device an almost 360-degree viewability and a kind of pseudo-3D appearance.
Processor
According to Mac rumors, TSMC has begun work on mapping out the design and specifications for an A11 chip, which will be built using a 10-nanometer process. This means that the work on the very first stages of what could be the power core of the iPhone 8 has begun in earnest.
However, certification of the 10-nanometer process needed to produce the chip is not yet done, but this is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. It is expected that the first 10-nanometer chip will be ready and sent to Apple for testing during the first quarter of 2017.
As for its actual specifications, I do not know, however, it will undoubtedly be much faster and also be much more energy efficient, in addition to being a lot smaller.
Wiresless Charging
Again this is a rumor, so take it with a pinch of salt. However, if this is true, Apple could with the iPhone 8 have the intention of shaking up wireless charging tech with its own long-distance version.
Long-distance wireless charging, as you can imagine would be superior by design to what currently exists. As the technology would not require the use of a mat or for the iPhone 8 to be close to a charging source. From what is being said about this, there are some significant obstacles to overcome before the tech can be implemented.
One such obstacle is the loss of power over distances, as it stands this power loss increases the further the receiver is away from the transmitter and it also takes the device longer to charge. Making it currently not a practical method of charging. Apparently Apple has been recently hiring engineers, with expertise in wireless charging in the hopes of overcoming the obstacles in front of it.
Enhanced Biometrics
According to a recent report from KGI securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 8 will undoubtedly include more advanced biometric features. These features could be advanced facial recognition and iris scanning. However, Kuo did not go on to elaborate any-more on the features and what they could be used for. Personally, the use of these kind of features, I think can only before security, either the protection of the handset and its data or both.
Nand Flash Memory
The iPhone 8 is expected to have the very best flash memory and currently, that is Nand Flash. If these rumors are to be believed, it looks as though Apple could yet again be approaching Samsung for this, but further details are not available.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it the latest rumors doing the rounds about a possible iPhone 8, and from what I can tell it looks as though the rumors have begun to slow down a little. Maybe critics, bloggers, and analysts are too busy getting to grips with iOS 10 to think about the future too much.
