Contrary to rumors, the iPhone 8 release date will happen as scheduled and likely no later than October 2017. A new report claims production activities in relation to the mass assembly of the flagship device will commence as planned.
Analytic firm Morgan Stanley said in a new report, per Seeking Alpha, that supply chain updates from China indicated of no delays. Mass production of the new iPhone models is seen "to start on time for most of the components (including OLED)," the report added.
Apple is rumored to deliver three iPhone editions this 2017 - the iPhone 7S series that is expected as a minor bump from the 2016 versions and the more premium iPhone 8 that will have an all-screen profile with OLED display panel.
Previously, KGI Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo has predicted that while the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7S will get introduced in September only the latter will start selling immediately. Would-be buyers of the iPhone 8 will need to wait until November or December for the handset as Kuo said nagging production and component issues could lead to severe shortage when the device starts shipping out.
However, the Morgan Stanley update runs in counter with KGI report. The two firms though are in agreement that Apple will be asking for an arm and leg for the right to take home the iPhone 8. Kuo projected the iPhone 8 sticker price will be no less than $1000 while Morgan Stanley set the starting price at $999.
On the other hand, the iPhone 7S will start at $649 for the regular edition and $769 for the iPhone 7S Plus. Morgan Stanley said Apple will continue selling the iPhone SE, the mass production of which has been shifted to India.
But paying a high price to own the iPhone 8 seems completely justified by the high-end feature upgrades packed with the device, WCCFTech reported. A11 processing chip in 10nm FinFET and supported by 3GB of RAM will power the handset with iOS 11 running the show. And the use of 3D sensors for the glass-embedded control keys plus the dual camera setup for both the rear and front shooter are seen to add up to users' satisfaction.
And there is a chance the iPhone 8 will get a sneak peek early as speculations are rife this could happen via the Apple WWDC 2017 that will start June 5 with the release date to be announced at a later date.