It's confirmed that there will be a new iPhone to come out this 2017 but what exactly to expect from Apple remains a largely a big question mark. Will there really be an iPhone 8 alongside the presumed jump to iPhone 7S? And when exactly is the device release date?

In his recent notes, KGI Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo has affirmed that the tech giant will launch three new smartphone models - the iPhone 7S series with the design and feature specifications that will be nearly identical with the iPhone 7 of 2016 and the iPhone 8 with radical redesign and OLED display. Kuo also indicated that Apple might be forced to delay the commercial debut of the iPhone 8 due to issues on component supply and mass production.

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However, the analyst is convinced that Apple will go ahead and introduce all the new iPhones this coming September. So far, Kuo is yet to comment on rumors that the iPhone 8 might be given a sneak peek during the WWDC 2017 that will start on June 5.

It's possible too that the iPhone 8 when it materializes will not carry the same label. According to Value Walk, since the device rollout will mark the tenth anniversary of the brand it will be called iPhone X, "the X signifying the Roman numeral for 10."

In terms of design, the iPhone 8 will be significantly different from the iPhone 7S. As mentioned, the latter will mirror the design language seen with the iPhone 7 last year. The former on the other hand is rumored to be predominantly made of glass - the front and rear glass cover sandwiching the stainless steel chassis that holds the inside component.

And unlike the Galaxy S8, which has the fingerprint sensor awkwardly located at the back of the phone, the next iPhone will have its biometric reader embedded with the OLED glass display. Per DigiTimes, "Apple will use an optical fingerprint sensor to enable authentication directly on the screen."

"The new iPhone devices will also come with invisible infrared image sensors to enhance the functionality of high-pixel camera and to enable AR applications," the Taiwanese publication added on its report.

As for the pricing, the iPhone 7S series is expected to take the pricing points in use with the currents models - $649 for the 4.7-inch form factor and $769 for the 5.5-inch edition. The 5.8-inch iPhone 8 with 4K screen resolution is rumored to sell starting at $999.