iPhone 8: What the latest rumours tell us
With September around the corner, rumours and leaks about the upcoming iPhone 8 have started picking up pace. In this industry of ever-upgrading technology, this next smartphone from Apple is being awaited with great anticipation.
Hopes are high from the 10th-anniversary edition of the original iPhone, with analysts expecting a major upgrade on the iPhone 7 which, to be honest, was in itself a pretty good phone. The expectation is that Apple will dazzle the world with the iPhone 8 by equipping it with hardware and features to make it a well-rounded device.
Rumours claim the phone - upon its launch sometime in September - will come with great internals and impressive features like wireless charging, AR support, and face detection capabilities.
However, as is the case with rumours, they should be taken with a pinch of salt. Here's our round-up of the most interesting ones.
Design
In July, Apple released the firmware of its upcoming smart speaker, the HomePod. But the firmware ended up being a hint into the future of the iPhone 8. The firmware upgrade according to reports had information within it about some of the features of the iPhone 8 and how the HomePod would work with it.
As per a TechCrunch report, the iPhone 8 now is expected to feature a brand new bezel-less design.
One month later, still the very best looking #iPhone8 mockup out there... ???? pic.twitter.com/hSCh2C5X6Y
— Steve H. (@OnLeaks) July 27, 2017
There is also report the phone will feature an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) screen. At present, Apple uses LTPS (Low-Temperature Poly-Silicon) panels in iPhones. The advantage of switching to OLED display is increased sharpness and brightness, and decreased power consumption. The Nikkei report also suggests that Apple may try its hands on curved display with the coming iPhone.
AR support with rear camera and 3D lasers
Another interesting rumour about the upcoming iPhone is that it could integrate 3D lasers to the rear camera of the handset. Reports suggest the iPhone 8 will use a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) system. The VCSEL system would improve the phone's autofocus capabilities and depth perception for better-augmented reality experience.
Infrared face recognition camera
A patent application filed by Apple had previously hinted at how Apple plans to bring facial recognition capabilities with its next iPhone. This facial recognition system was expected to replace the existing Touch ID fingerprint scanner, however, if latest reports are to be believed it will coexist with the Touch ID sensor embedded in the display of the phone.
As per the leaks, the technology codenamed Pearl ID should let you unlock your iPhone in the dark, even if you’re looking at your phone from an odd angle, or if your face is partially blocked.
I can confirm reports that HomePod’s firmware reveals the existence of upcoming iPhone’s infra-red face unlock in BiometricKit and elsewhere pic.twitter.com/yLsgCx7OTZ
— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) July 31, 2017
MacBook style touch bar
One more rumour that is sure to get a lot of fanboys excited. According to reports, iPhone 8 will have a strip along the bottom of the display reserved for a "function area". This strip will provide similar functionality to the touch strip present on the refreshed MacBook from 2016.
The wireless charging conundrum
With iPhone 8, Apple is expected to bring wireless charging capabilities to its iPhone lineup. For many years, wireless charging has been touted as a convenient solution to charge phones without using clunky cables. However, the tech comes with its own drawbacks.
Despite its tempting prospects and huge investments, the technology has failed to make its mark in the mobile industry. Slow performance, unstable connections, and overheating issues have contributed to a steady decline in the adoption of the technology by the industry. Needless to say, if Apple does indeed plan to introduce the capability to its iPhone lineup, it will have to find fixes for all these issues before rolling out the tech with its new smartphone.
The most expensive iPhone ever?
Not light on features, Apple's upcoming iPhone 8 certainly won't be light on your pocket too. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus currently cost between $649 for the cheapest variant and $969 for the high-end Plus models, but iPhone 8 is expected to start retailing upwards of the $1000 (approx Rs 65,000) mark.