What will the iPhone 8 look like when unboxed? A fresh render indicates the build and design will remind of the industrial language employed by Apple with the iPhone 5/5S and certainly the sticker price will be higher than ever.
The latest render of the iPhone 8 to surface visualized the upcoming iOS flagship as inspired by the iPhone 5S but bearing the sized of the iPhone 6S. The next iPhone concept, specifically the back plate, was modeled after the recently leaked schematic of the device, according to MacRumors, which prominently placed the Touch ID fingerprint reader on the rear panel and just below the Apple logo.
And true to the persistent rumors, the same render features a vertical dual-lens rear camera with cutout provision for the rumored wireless charging capability. The back casing is made of aluminum and is noticeably identical to the design that Apple has introduced with the iPhone 5/5S, which deviates from the speculations that the next iPhone design is dominantly curvy on the edges.
While the render did not include the front panel, MacRumors said its creator is in agreement with the reports that OLED is the material of choice for the handset screen. The iPhone 8 boasting of OLED will mean that the screen will be brighter and crisper than ever, plus the bonus of longer battery life as the panel is more energy efficient than the traditional LCD screen.
But with OLED, getting the next iPhone will prove more expensive than before as the technology attached with the material will come at a high cost. As a result, the 2017 iPhone is estimated to have a higher average selling price (ASP) at the start of 2018, Business Insider reported.
The report was based on the latest note from Katy Huberty of Morgan Stanley, and it suggested that from the projected ASP of $675 the next iPhone will reach $753 months after the device rollout. The estimate is in line with the rumors that the iPhone 8 will be the priciest ever of the line, likely to retail over $1000 a pop.
The ASP hike and the actual costly sticker price will be justified by the huge specs bumps and feature upgrades, which Huberty said will be headlined "a more power efficient OLED display, wireless charging, 3D sensors, and a new curved form factor."
Apple is expected to introduce its flagship handsets on September 2017 that analysts said will include the iPhone 7S series and the radically redesigned iPhone 8. But only the 7S and 7S Plus will be made available weeks after the unveiling as the iPhone 8 release date is said to be delayed and will not ship until November or December.