iPhone 8 release date, specs rumors: Device anticipated to launch in 2017

Clarissa Partosa Wednesday, December 07, 2016

The Apple Inc. store seen on the day of the new iPhone 7 smartphone launch in Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

The newest iPhone model is expected to be introduced in the market in September of next year. Among the iPhone 8's speculated features are wireless charging, an OLED display, and a foldable form.

Next year will be the iPhone's 10th anniversary, and to kick off the year, Apple will be releasing a new iPhone model, which is expected to debut the market at the company's September event in 2017. According to Macworld, Apple decided to name the new model iPhone 8 instead of making it an iPhone S7 because of the smartphone's revolutionary features.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is creating more than 10 prototypes for the iPhone 8 in order to come up with the revolutionary and innovative device.

Meanwhile, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI Securities predicts that the company will launch three new iPhone models in 2017, 9to5mac reports. Two of these will be successors to the iPhone 7 series, while the other one will be the revolutionary model that is anticipated to have an OLED display that curves on the edges of the phone.

This curved OLED display iPhone model is also expected to be bezel-less. The home button of the new iPhone model will be integrated into the display, but where the speaker and FaceTime camera will be placed remains a mystery.

All three models are anticipated to have glass casings to incorporate the wireless charging feature, which will be a first for the iPhone series. The new iPhone models will have an inductive pad charger, similar to the one that the Apple Watch uses.

Meanwhile, Apple Insider reports that Apple submitted a patent for "Flexible display devices," and it is expected to be integrated into the new iPhone 8.

The patent describes an iPhone that can be folded in two when it is not being used, making it easy for safe keeping. The foldable form of the iPhone depends on the materials that will be used to make it plausible, such as the OLED display and metal support structure.

The iPhone 8 is expected to debut in September 2017.