14 DAY TRIAL // The next-year iPhone will be truly special for Apple, as it marks the 10th anniversary of the device, so Cupertino is planning some pretty big changes, including a completely new model.
Although it might be too early to speculate on this, Nikkei Asian Review writes that Apple plans to introduce three iPhone models next year, all of them featuring a glass back and a metal frame.
Specifically, the iPhone 8 (or iPhone 10, according to another recent report) could be available with 4.7-, 5.0-, and 5.5-inch displays, the aforementioned source says, but there’s a good chance this is not true.
First and foremost, Apple sticks with the same dimensions for two generations already and it’s unlikely to introduce a 5.0-inch model because the differences between it and the 4.7-inch version would be only minor.
If Apple is indeed planning such a model, then the 4.7-inch iPhone could be abandoned for a lineup that makes a little bit more sense and includes the 4.0-inch iPhone SE, the new iPhone with a 5.0-inch screen, plus the iPhone Plus with a 5.5-inch display.
iPhone 8 Pro?
There’s a good chance that Nikkei was actually referring to the iPhone Pro as the third model, but the screen size would be different if this is the case. Previous reports that emerged before the debut of the iPhone 7 indicated that Apple was considering the addition of a Pro SKU in order to offer a more powerful configuration to users in search for such hardware.
The iPhone Pro was said to come with a 5.7-inch display, and although the differences versus the previous model in the range were minor here as well, Apple was believed to be planning exclusive features that could have set it apart from the other iPhones.
Getting back to the iPhone 8 lineup, the same source notes that the glass backs could be manufactured by two companies, namely Biel Crystal Manufactory and Lens Technology. The metal frame will be made by Foxconn, Catcher Technology, and Jabil.
The iPhone Plus might be the only one switching to OLED displays, the source notes, and these will be manufactured by Samsung, Sharp, and LG.