iPhone 8 Release Date, News: Next Apple Smartphones Expected to Cost $1,000 or More
Now that the world is just months away from the expected release of the new iPhone generation, reports are starting to bet that the premium variant, the iPhone 8, might cost within or above the $1,000 price point.
While a smartphone priced above $1,000 might raise some eyebrows, reports pointed out that it does not come as a shock for the iPhone 8, considering that the iPhone 7 Plus can cost as much as $969.
Forbes pointed out that since Apple is expected to release another premium smartphone, the price hike is a given. Added to that, the Cupertino-based technology firm might be adopting Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge's organic light-emitting diode display technology that sports advanced flexibility qualities and this component is not cheap.
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However, as previously reported, the iPhone lineup to be released this year is speculated to have just one variant with the OLED panel and that is the iPhone 8. Considering the cost of the OLED display, Apple is bent on sticking with liquid crystal displays on its other variants, the iPhone 7s and 7s Plus. As explained by analyst Daniel Matte to Forbes, "The OLED display will definitely be...expensive, and the limited quantities available will definitely require some models to stick with LCDs (as rumored)."
Apart from the high-end OLED panels, it looks like the higher price range for the iPhone 8 will be justified by an exclusive wireless feature. In recently leaked information from Mac Otakara, it is believed that Apple decided that only the iPhone 8 will be integrated with the wireless charging feature off the box.
On the other hand, Mac Otakara maintains that the mid and lower-end variants, the iPhone 7s and 7s Plus, can still be wirelessly recharged since they will both have glass bodywork for the rear side as well. However, a separate accessory supplied by Luxshare-ICT needs to be purchased.
On other news, Digitimes reported that Apple plans to start the production of the new iPhone earlier than usual for this year. According to their sources, suppliers will begin to ship components before the end of Q1 2017.
Also, before March ends, Digitimes' sources over at the Taiwan-based suppliers claim that the OLED panel bonding process will begin as Apple has already ordered their needed quantity of OLED panels from Samsung Display.
The iPhone 8, iPhone 7s, and 7s Plus are expected to be launched within this year.
