We’re fast approaching the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, and Apple plans to celebrate their achievement with the iPhone 8. Slated for a release this fall, it has all the features of a truly innovative and impressive smartphone that’s worthy of the date. But can we trust the leaks and rumors surrounding its release to give us an accurate idea of the 8? Let’s dive into what we know about the new model and see if we can pin down any solid facts.
Possible Release Date Pinned Down
Experts are pretty confident that Apple will reveal the 10th anniversary edition on either the 12th or 13th of September, but they won’t officially launch it until a week later on the 22nd or 23rd. Apple may try to keep an aura of mystery surrounding their new releases, but they’re nothing if not predictable. They’ve used this pattern of release then launch in September for every iPhone since the 5 in 2012. Now that our contracts have synched to this schedule, it’s unlikely they’ll deviate from the plan.
Performance Improved with a New Chip
Rumors suggest we can expect a new system-on-a-chip (SOC) processor, which seems highly likely given the fact the most major iPhone releases are equipped with new technology. The A11 processors will be the first to harness the 10 nanometer FinFet process, which guarantees better power efficiency and performance.To compare, the iPhone 7 only used 16 nanometer in its A10 Fusion processors, so we expect the 8 will show off considerable muscle.
Display and Design Revamped
Apple has held on to LED tech for long enough. It’s expected they’ll shed this outdated display and join most premium smartphones by adopting OLED. There are a lot of advantages to making this switch. OLED screens produce their own light, which eliminates the need for backlighting that can drain power. They also display more dynamic images, capable of a wider color gamut, truer blacks, and higher contrasts.
OLEDs are also much slimmer and more flexible than LED screens, which gives credence to rumors promising Apple’s first curved-edge design. What we see in the iPhone 8 could be very similar to the Samsung Galaxy S7’s edge-to-edge display. Leaks from Mac Otakarareport the 8 will have a 5.8-inch screen, but only 5.1 inches of it will go towards on-screen applications.
The remaining space will be used to revolutionize the home button. Already tweaked in the 7 and 7 Plus, in which it was no longer an actual button to depress, the home button will be totally bereft in the newest model. In its place, reports suggest Apple will replace its Touch ID with ultrasound technology capable of verifying through biometric technology. Its 3D sensors could also spell progress for additional augmented reality applications in its camera.
Price
Not too long ago, frantic reports were predicting the final cost of the 8 to surpass $1,000, which would place the 8 as the most expensive iPhone to date. While it costs more to cover the more expensive OLED displays, UBS finds it unlikely the newest model will go over $1,000. Apple rarely exceeds the price point of its closest competitors. At this point the competition would be the Galaxy S8, and it’s expected Samsung’s future flagship won’t exceed $800.
Even if Samsung manages to keep Apple in check, many of us will want to think twice about upgrading. If you have the 7 or 7 Plus, it might not be worth the price tag. A better bet would be to wait until 2018 or 2019 when Apple’s ironed out the glitches in their augmented reality and OLED display.
Until then you can pretend you’ve got the latest release by creating a customized decal to breathe new life into your old phone. The minds responsible behind dbrand skins make it possible to build your own decal for any generation. Go to dbrand.com/iphone-skins to choose your model and select a color and texture combo you feel good about applying to your device. These iPhone skins also add a layer of protection to ensure your 7 will make it another 2 years.
If you have anything older than the 6s, then the upgrade might just be worth the 8’s price tag. Not only is it likely for your contract to be up by the time of its release, but the 8 will herald in new design and software that are miles away from older models. Of course, you could also take a look at the S8 and other premium Androids, but we all know that once you go Apple you never go back.
And why would you want to? If every rumor surrounding the Apple’s 10th anniversary model comes true, than the 8 will be one of the best smartphones of the year. Even if only half of them do, the 8 will be impressive for sure.
