iPhone 8 release date, specs, rumors: Phone to launch in Q3 2017 with new design?

The upcoming iPhone 8 is rumored to have a design overhaul. While there have been no leaks so far about the device's new look, speculations are now running wild that it will be given a major overhaul after its last three predecessors essentially had the same appearance.

One of the anticipated design changes is the removal of a dedicated Home button. This was the option that other phone manufacturers have gone for in order to set a larger screen. Therefore, it is also likely that the upcoming iPhone 8 will also adopt a screen-based version of that. It is also said that the iPhone 8 will now have a glass back, following a statement made by an Apple supplier.

Beyond the design, it is also rumored that a lot of changes will be made on the upcoming device. One of the suspected changes is that it will use Samsung's curved AMOLED display, given the good reception it received from consumers. Innovations are also expected to be made on the camera.

Apple has proven that it does not incorporate expandable storage in its design, and it does not look that it will make an exception now. As such, it is likely that the handset will not come with microSD support. However, like its previous incarnations, it would probably provide three or four options for consumers to choose from — 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB.

The iPhone 8 is likely to be released by the third quarter of 2017. This is a probable estimate made by analysts, given that its predecessors were also released either in the late part of the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter, just in time for the holidays. It is also likely that three versions of the phone will be released: the standard iPhone 8, the iPhone 8 Plus, and the iPhone 8 Pro.