iPhone 8 Release Date, Specs Rumors: Next Apple Smartphone Comes Without Curved Display?
Reports have it that the next premium Apple smartphone, which is dubbed the iPhone 8, might actually not feature a curved-edge display.
After several reports and speculations agreed that the iPhone 8 will exclusively sport an organic light-emitting diode display panel, rumors that Apple would also go for a curved-edge display spread like wildfire. These also made sense since almost all premium smartphone variants from the biggest manufacturers around the world have recently ditched the flat screen design.
The iPhone 8's obvious rival, Samsung's Galaxy S8, will reportedly sport a curved edge for both its variants, so it was easily speculated that the next premium iPhone from Apple might be designed the same way. However, recently, more analysts suggest that it will not be the case.
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MacRumors reported that an IHS Markit analyst, Wayne Lam, told them, "We anticipate Apple will adopt a flat implementation of OLED design on their special iPhone model, which is analogous to the current 2.5D glass design."
Lam added that the iPhone 8 might actually be more like the recently announced LG G6 in terms of screen design. "We anticipate a touchscreen with a new longer aspect ratio design to take advantage of higher coverage area of the iPhone in its entirety," he further explained.
The IHS Markit analyst also added that the LG G6 kind of screen design – with a 5.7-inch screen and 2:1 aspect ratio – is most likely going to be the trend for 2017 smartphones. However, one of the highly anticipated smartphone reveals this year is that the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are both expected to sport curved edge displays.
Meanwhile, with the said screen template, LG was able to achieve an ergonomically friendly device and this has been LG G6's selling point when it was revealed during the Mobile World Congress last month. The South Korean company invited an expert at ergonomics to vouch that their newest offering aced that department.
The Penn State University ergonomics professor, Dr. Andris Freivalds, said during the event (via Forbes), "We checked the G6 from the eyes of an ergonomist, and we found that the G6 is different from other phones on the market. We also found that with curved displays, aka edge screens, users felt more tired holding the phone and had more erroneous touches."
Meanwhile, the iPhone 8, iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus are expected to be announced this year.
