iPhone 8 release date, specs & features rumors 2016: Next iPhone update may come in an all-glass design

Apple has just released the latest update to its flagship smartphone, and yet the rumor mills have already begun churning with speculations about an upcoming iPhone 8.

Trusted Reviews reported that as early as now, industry analysts have already been sharing their two cents on the specs of the next Apple smartphone. Reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo boldly claimed that the iPhone 8 may come in an all-glass chassis. A Barclay analyst made a bolder claim about the iPhone 8 possibly employing the revolutionary wireless charging.

Rumors also have it that the presumed A11 chip design of the iPhone 8 has already been finalized and that the need for new OLED screens for the upcoming iPhone update has prompted manufacturers to retool their factories in order to meet the demand.

The rumored all-glass design seems to be supported by reports that Taiwan's Foxconn has been experimenting on glass casings for phones since last year in hopes of replacing Apple's current metal chassis. They are also presumably hoping that the new design could boost interest and thus increase the demand for the upcoming iPhone 8.

The iPhone 8 is also rumored to be equipped with an OLED/AMOLED display for easier access, an Intel 7360 LTE modem, updated iOS 11 software, and a longer battery life. The iPhone 8 may also feature a better access point than Apple's trademark home button.

The iPhone 8 may also feature an edge-to-edge display and Touch ID, according to Macrumors. It may also be equipped with the same dual-lens camera that has just been introduced in the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus. This could, however, mean that the dual-lens camera may only be available for the iPhone 8 Plus as well.

The currently rumored release date is September 2017. But these are all just speculations and Apple has yet to release an official statement about a possible iPhone 8 update.