Is everything we know about the iPhone 8 wrong? In fact could there even be no "iPhone 8" in 2017…
A new report from controversial tipsters Mac Otakara says there is no such thing as the "iPhone 8" or even the "iPhone X." Instead the name it believes Apple is strongly considering is the "iPhone Edition." It makes sense too, "Watch Edition" is the brand Apple uses for its top of the line (and eye-wateringly expensive) Apple Watch.
Image credit: Tech Driven Times
iPhone 8 concept reder based on recent leaks, is now thrown into doubt. Image credit: Tech Driven Times
In addition to this Mac Otakara suggests development of a futuristic 2017 iPhone may not be as cut and dry as previous reports had believed and that numerous prototypes are still under consideration. Here’s the bad news:
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“Multiple prototype models exist for this model and the development continues to be carried out in parallel with EVT [engineering validation tests]. The production level of development on various models are being done such as the models with IPS TFT, AMOLED, the model with or without home button, in addition to the models with a new glass, aluminum chassis, white ceramics etc.”
OLED was thought to be a shoo-in at this stage, so it’s concerning to think this could fall by the wayside like its once mooted revolutionary charging. Mac Oktara also says Apple has ruled out transitioning the new iPhone to USB Type-C - as speculated last week. A move which will polarize opinion.
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The third downside to all this prototyping is the report claims the iPhone Edition will arrive later than the incremental iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus models that are expected to be announced alongside it in September. Presumably Apple will still hit the all-important Christmas period, but how much beforehand remains to be seen.
What To Think?
The reason I referred to Mac Otakara as “controversial” at the start of this article is because of its track record. Historically the site has, at times, missed by a mile and yet at others famously delivered major exclusives.
Image credit: Tech Driven Times
The iPhone 8 (concept render) is the star of Apple's 2017 releases. Image credit: Tech Driven Times
For example, it was the first site to state Apple was removing the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (not to be confused with my own head-turning editorial a year earlier which anticipated this change). As a Japanese site, Mac Otakara also does little to ingratiate itself to Western readers as its Japanese articles only receive the roughest of translations into English underneath - translations which can often be less helpful than just researching and translating the original Japanese.
As such the Mac Otakara news is both noteworthy and something to treat with caution. Certainly the "Edition" branding makes sense given Apple’s preference for clear product lines, but the hopes were already high that a high futuristic iPhone 8 was well past the planning stage and even on its way to production to meet a potentially ravenous fan base on release.
Time will tell. But with the radically redesigned Galaxy S8 and Google’s confirmed Pixel 2 plans also set to be smartphone highlights in 2017, the stage looks set for a blockbuster year.
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