It’s been a long while since we’ve seen a significant update to the iPhone form factor. Indeed, the recently released iPhone 7 is essentially the same as the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6 before it. Now that’s not to say that the iPhone 7 is a boring device. Far from it, Apple’s latest and greatest smartphone is a surprisingly compelling device with all sorts of welcome improvements in performance and, at long last, battery life.
That notwithstanding, some iPhone owners are understandably eager for a fresh take on a form factor that has arguably gotten a little stale at this point. Not to worry, Apple’s 2017 iPhone, a device likely to be called the iPhone 8, will likely offer users the radical iPhone redesign they’ve been waiting for.
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Over the past few months, we’ve seen no shortage of rumors claiming that Apple’s iPhone 8 models will feature an edge-to-edge display. Adding more credence to these rumors, a new research report from analysts at Barclays Research (via MacRumors) claims that with the iPhone 8, Apple will introduce iPhone models with a completely new form factor.
Citing sources within Apple’s supply chain, the research report claims that Apple’s iPhone 8 models will feature curved 5 and 5.8-inch displays. However, because the displays will be edgeless — which is to say there won’t be a bezel in sight — the actual size of Apple’s current 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone models will not change much, if at all. What’s more, and further corroborating previous reports, Barclays Research believes that both new iPhone 8 models will feature curved displays.
On a related note, Barclays adds that there’s still no guarantee the home button on the iPhone 8 will be embedded underneath the display itself, as some rumors have claimed. Instead, it’s entirely plausible that the iPhone 8 will sport a design similar to what Xiaomi introduced with the Mi Mix last month where there’s a slight bezel on the bottom.
Lastly, Barclays Research writes that the rumored OLED display panels Apple is transitioning to will only make an appearance on the iPhone 8 Plus model.
