14 DAY TRIAL // The next-year iPhone is likely to be a complete overhaul of the existing lineup, with several sources pointing to a bezel-less all-glass design, but well-known Apple analyst house KGI goes for a more conservative approach.
In a recent forecast on the next-generation iPhone, KGI Securities predicts that Apple is going to launch not one, not two, but three models next year, one of which will get the overly-discussed OLED display.
Although at first glance everyone would be tempted to believe that Apple is finally ready to launch an iPhone Pro, that’s not the case, KGI says, and the three-model lineup will include the regular 4.7- and 5.5-inch versions, with the latter featuring two variations.
The bigger iPhone Plus will be available in two versions, one with the LCD display that’s also available on the existing generation (most likely with some worthy improvements), and another one with an OLED screen. The latter will be more expensive, and Apple is expected to add an extra $100 over the price of the regular iPhone Plus - this means the top-of-the-range configuration will cost more than $1000.
Other 2017 iPhone features
As far as the other features are concerned, it looks like the smaller iPhone with a 4.7-inch display still won’t get a dual-camera system, as Apple wants to keep it exclusive to the Plus.
KGI doesn’t comment on rumors that the iPhone 8 could come with a bezel-less design, but the analyst house previously said that it expected Apple to build the next iPhone entirely from glass, similar to the iPhone 4 and 4s.
There are also rumors that Apple is planning several new breaking features, including the addition of wireless charging that wouldn’t use the typical charging plates as is the case with most phones these days. Instead, Apple might be planning wireless charging that works across the room thanks to transmitters that are powered from wall sockets and which cover a range of up to 5 meters.
Apple wants the next iPhone to be a major overhaul because this is the model marking the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, and there are rumors that the company could go as far as calling it iPhone 10.