The good news is that Apple later this year will finally roll out a next-gen iPhone with a completely brand new form factor. According to reports, Apple’s flagship iPhone will feature an edgeless display, improved battery life, wireless charging, facial recognition technology, and a slew of other advanced features.
The bad news is that iPhone owners eager to pick up the highly anticipated iPhone 8 — which may actually be called the iPhone Edition — will likely have to exercise a bit of patience. Over the past week alone, two independent sources have claimed that the iPhone Edition will launch a month or two after Apple releases the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus.
Shedding some light on the reason behind the delay, a fresh report from iGeneration relays that the iPhone Edition, as previously rumored, will come equipped with an advanced 3D camera system from STMicroelectronics. The camera system might take advantage of advanced laser technology and will likely be a key component of Apple’s plan to introduce new augmented reality and facial recognition features.
All that said, the report indicates that STMicroelectronics will need more time before it can produce enough camera modules to meet what will undoubtedly be staggering demand. Specifically, sources tell iGeneration that “these components may not be ready for September.”
Notably, this jibes with previous reports pointing to a staggered rollout of Apple’s 2017 iPhone lineup. Just yesterday, Macotakara indicated that the iPhone Edition is still undergoing testing and that mass production may not even begin until September. If this is actually the case, prospective iPhone buyers may have to wait until November before they can get their hands on what will undoubtedly be Apple’s most advanced iPhone yet.
