Right now the rumor mill is causing some confusion among those who are awaiting the iPhone 8 to be released in 2017. Not only is there talk about the best smartphone Apple has ever produced but also chatter about an iPhone 7s, and maybe even an iPhone 7s Plus! All of this has people confused, and rightly so, because at the moment, there’s no consensus among rumor writers. So in this article, we’re going to take a look at what’s being said and try to determine what Apple may or may not do in 2017.
iPhone 8 or iPhone 7s: serious upgrade or another iteration?
There are multiple schools of thought when it comes to Apple’s iPhone movements next year. The first one points out that next year is the iPhone’s tenth anniversary. Rumors about this being the driving force behind Apple’s 2017 planning began before the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus launches. We have covered this side of the story ourselves.
iPhone 8 with new design coming in September 2017
If you can remember when the first iPhone hit stores in 2007, it’s relatively safe to say that it revolutionized the mobile phone market and ushered in the transition from feature phones to smartphones, both iOS and Android. This iPhone made Apple the largest and one of the richest companies in the world. However, nothing stays the same, and for whatever reason, the Cupertino-based outfit has seen iPhone sales decrease as a whole over the past few years. Yes, the latest handsets have proven to be huge hits, but they have failed to reach and surpass previous records.
So with next year marking the tenth anniversary of the first device being announced at the Macworld convention in January 2007 and its later June 25 release date, Apple is expected to pay homage to this with a glitzy and no-expense-spared iPhone 8, which, according to some industry analysts, will help recover iPhone sales.
Rumored design and features
Since the iPhone 6, Apple has, for the most part, stuck with the same design, meaning that the 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, and even the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus keep the majority of the same design features. This has left many fans and industry critics feeling cheated by the tech giant and calling for something different.
However, does this mean that Apple will listen? Many people think it will, and there have been rumors backing this up. One centers around the design and display of the handset. According to MacRumors, the anniversary device will have an all-glass body and an edge-to-edge OLED display. Additionally, the display, due to its size, will supposedly house the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The front-facing camera could be somehow incorporated into it too.
However, there are alternative rumors which point towards 2017 without the iPhone 8!
iPhone 7s and 7s Plus only
Contrary to the widely-held belief that Apple is going to release an iPhone 8 is based on the anniversary hypothesis, rumors have emerged which point to the 7s and 7s Plus being the only new devices next year.
Seeing as Apple is yet to confirm anything, it is just as likely that this rumor is as accurate as the other. This one came from the Japanese blog Mac Otakara. It holds enough good standing in the mobile technology insider circle to be credible.
iPhone 7s design and features
The blog suggests that the iPhone 7s could come with the same aluminum body designs as the 7 and 7 Plus and have the same 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays, which is in line with what has come previously.
Additionally, these rumors point towards nothing major changing with the display either. Instead of the much-rumored OLED screen, Apple could stick with the tried and tested IPS LCD, which many have called to be replaced. However, nothing is yet set in stone, and opinions will change as the months pass by. Here’s what we think Apple will do in 2017.
iPhone 8 or iPhone 7s?
Will there be an iPhone 8? Cautiously, we would say yes because we believe the anniversary hypothesis to be reasonable and something that Apple could take advantage of as a way to generate massive pre-launch interest. However, using this as a marketing tool would mean that an iteration like the 7s only could not be possible. If Apple did that, it would surely face backlash.
Having said that, some rumors point to three handsets being launched in 2017. This would mean the iPhone 8, with all of its high-spec rumored features, including wireless charging and an OLED display, and also the 7s and 7s Plus with their previous generation designs and specifications.
So in short, we think three handsets being launched is the perfect scenario for 2017. It will enable Apple to capture those who stuck with older-generation handsets, preferring not to upgrade this year, and it will enable the company to produce a premium iPhone 8 aimed at those with deeper pockets.
