Apple’s 10th anniversary iPhone release is upon us, and a new leak confirms rumors that Apple will release a premium smartphone named the iPhone X and will also announce an iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. Here’s our iPhone X rumor roundup with information on Apple’s big 10th anniversary event, including image mockups, potential release dates, and more, now updated to reflect this latest Apple leak.
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Based on the latest leak, the tricked-out, expensive 10th-anniversary model will wow the crowd and take the name iPhone X. This device will sport major design and capability changes, along with a higher price tag. Apple is expected to release two more iPhones and will also drop its "s" naming convention in favor of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. Of course, nothing is set in stone until Apple announces the features itself. Here’s a quick look at the rumored iPhone X features:
Quick Look: iPhone X Rumors
- Three iPhone models
- OLED display (X model) Confirmed
- All-Screen (edge-to-edge) display Confirmed
- Facial recognition Confirmed
- AR-ready vertical camera
- Glass and stainless steel design
- Wireless charging Confirmed
- A11 chip & more RAM Confirmed
- True Tone display Confirmed
- Functionality Bar (similar to Macbook Pro) Confirmed
- Touch ID on Back?
- Redesigned power button Confirmed
When Is the iPhone 8 Coming Out?
Update: French site Mac4Ever is now reporting that the new iPhones will be announced on September 12 and now Apple has confirmed it. If that's the case and Apple follows its usual post announcement release schedule, Apple fans can expect to be able to preorder the newest iPhone on September 15 and to receive them by September 22. If the rumors of Apple releasing an iPhone 8 and 8 Plus and a third extra special 10th-anniversay phone are true, it's possible that these release dates would only apply to the 8 models as we predicted earlier.
Usually, I would confidently say that Apple will release the new iPhone in September 2017. And more than likely, that will still be the case. But there have been recent rumors suggesting that at least the release of the third, special-edition iPhone will be delayed until November. Apple has had a couple problems already with the iPhone X, including manufacturing demands and the issue of getting Touch ID to work on a full-screen display. Some rumors predict that Apple will release an iPhone 8 and 8 Plus in September with the special edition iPhone X debuting in November. Personally, I hope Apple has a more elegent release structure in mind.
image credit: ifanr
Three iPhone Models?
Apple is expected to release three iPhone models. Two of those models will sport more incremental upgrades. The third model, called the iPhone X, is rumored to be more expensive because of its OLED display that is expected to take up nearly all of the front of the iPhone, allowing for a slightly larger 5.8-inch screen. The leak confirms the larger screen with a new 18.5:9 aspect ratio. This third model is rumored to cost at least $1,000 and feature the AR-ready vertical camera, OLED display, and more premium features. However, I think it would be a mistake to put all of this energy into only the special edition 10th-anniversary iPhone; I sincerely hope Apple includes significant improvement and innovation into every model it releases.
Touch ID on the Back of the iPhone?
This is a newer rumor that came to light after some design schematics leaked, showing a place for Touch ID on the back of the iPhone. Having an all-screen glass display on the iPhone X has made it difficult for Apple. Apparently, it’s not so easy to fit Touch ID beneath a glass screen and have it work with the same level of accuracy. But simply putting Touch ID on the back is not much of a solution. I don’t think this will be the final design that Apple goes with; Apple is reportedly testing out ten different prototypes, and all we can really do is speculate and cross our fingers that this isn’t the design Apple chooses.
OLED Display
An OLED screen has been on the list of iPhone rumors for a couple years now, and according to the Wall Street Journal’s report, one or more of the new iPhone models will include an OLED display. Adopting OLED screens would allow Apple to create a thinner iPhone (since it wouldn’t need the same backlighting as current screens) and a better battery life (since OLED requires less power than the current LCD screens). OLED would also offer richer colors, truer blacks, and even the flexibility for a curved all-screen or edge-to-edge display.
All-Screen (Edge-to-Edge) Display + Functionality Bar
There are varying opinions on whether or not all of the new iPhone models will have an all-screen display, or at least an edge-to-edge one. But if Apple is planning on upgrading only the more expensive 10th anniversary model with an all-screen display (and all the other interesting rumors), why even make the others? Sure, the iPhoneX will cost more because of these new features, but it would be silly to release two other models with no significant design or feature changes.
Another recent rumor is that Apple will use the bottom of the all-screen display for a functionality bar, similar to those on the most recent Macbook Pro. This is a classic Apple move—releasing tech for one product and then bringing it to others. So long as we see an all-screen design for the final product, I think it’s highly likely that we’ll see a functionality bar too.
image credit: ifanr
Facial Recognition
Update: The leak confirms that Facial Recognition will be replacing Touch ID. Face ID will even be used for Apple Pay. While the next iPhone will most likely include Touch ID, it might also include an iris scanner or facial recognition. This rumor originally seemed like a stretch, until we heard reports that Apple acquired Israeli firm RealFace, which specializes in facial recognition. If Apple plans to ditch a visible Home button, this new feature makes even more sense. However, it sounds like Apple has no intention of ditching Touch ID altogether in favor of Facial Recognition. If the technology is ready, I imagine Apple will include Facial Recognition in the 10th anniversary iPhone 8. Update: And in fact, a look in the HomePod firmware released to developers make it seem likely that the next iPhone will not only have facial recognition, it will be able to scan your face even when the iPhone is resting on a table or other horizontal surface.
Vertical Camera for Augmented Reality
A lot of the recently leaked iPhone 8 images reveal a vertical camera. It’s said that Apple is making this change in order to hop on the Augmented Reality bandwagon. Apple knowns technology is moving towards AR and VR (virtual reality), and it will be important to stay on pace with the changes. In line with this, it’s also thought that the front-facing camera will get a second lense like the iPhone 7 Plus did last year. It’s predicted that the upgraded front-facing camera would have a myriad of applications, including 3D face scanning capabilities for creating your avatar in augmented or virtual reality gaming. Yet again, all rumors indicate that this technology will be reserved for the special edition iPhone 8.
image credit: iDropNews
Glass & Stainless Steel Design
The iPhone 4s was the last iPhone to have a glass back. We’ve only seen iPhones designed with strong aluminum bodies since then. But with the next iPhone, we may see a glass and stainless steel design. Of course, if Apple chooses to go this route, it will hopefully have figured out a way to improve the strength of the glass used on its iPhones, especially considering that it moved away from a glass design in the past due to the iPhone’s vulnerability to nasty cracks.
Goodbye Lightning Connector?
Update: It now appears that the new iPhone will have wireless charging, but will be incompatible with current Qi-basedwireless charging standards. According to WSJ sources, Apple may ditch the Lightning connector in favor of a USB-C connector. The leak has another possible interpretation, however. The article stated that the iPhone 8 may include a, "USB-C port for the power cord and other peripheral devices instead of the company’s original Lightning connector." Apple could keep the Lighting connector but replace the USB-A end of the power cord with a USB-C port. This would make it easy to connect to Apple's latest MacBook line that uses USB-C. But if I have to use another dongle, I may just lose it. Overall, I think this rumor is more fluff than truth. Some rumors suggest that Apple is improving the lightning connector for a faster charging speed, like that of the USB-C. We’ll just have to wait and see with this one.
image credit: ifanr
A11 Chip Upgrade + More RAM
The iPhone 7 uses an A10 chip with a reported 2 GB of RAM. It’s no surprise then that Apple plans to upgrade to an A11 chip with the next iPhone. The premium or Plus models of the next generation of iPhone are also expected to get a RAM upgrade.
Wireless Charging
Apple ditched the headphone jack with the iPhone 7, so it only seems natural that it would move toward a completely wireless iPhone. Many Samsung phones already offer wireless charging, so Apple is late to the game with this technology. However, Apple has also been waiting for distance charging, which would allow you to charge your iPhone from 15 feet away. As awesome as that would be, the technology is reportedly not up to par yet. I sure hope we see wireless charging in the next iPhone, and Ming-Chi Kuo thinks this time around, we will. Update: this rumor has been confirmed. Wireless distance charging is probably another couple years down the road though.
Jet White iPhone 8?
The iPhone 7’s shiny Jet Black model has been popular. So why not make a shiny white iPhone? I can't say for sure how much validity this rumor has, but I love my Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus. Despite its tendency to collect fingerprints, it just feels super classy. I'm sure the Jet White iPhone would be the same.
image credit: Sonny Dickson
What Will the iPhone X Cost?
The iPhone X model is rumored to be the first $1,000 iPhone. As far as the regular iPhone 8 and 8 Plus model, it will probably start at $649 for the 32 GB and go up to $849 for the 256 GB, with the Plus model being a hundred dollars more for each.
My biggest concern with Apple’s upcoming release is the differences between models. Almost all of the iPhone 8 rumors that are innovative or interesting in any way seem to also be features reserved for the premium 10th anniversary iPhone X. And I think that would be a mistake. Apple doesn’t have the luxury to focus all of its energy into this one expensive model. The competition is stacking up against Apple, and it needs to severely step up its innovation game. If Apple plans on offering a $1,000 iPhone, it better also make the standard (already expensive) iPhone incredible too. Otherwise, don’t make them.
What do you want to see in the new iPhone X? Let us know in the comments!
