iPhone 8 release date UPDATE - Why we will soon have idea of when next iPhone launches
THE Apple iPhone 8 is one of the most eagerly anticipated smartphones of the year, and next week we could have a better idea of its release date.
Apple are busy prepping the iPhone 8, which is expected to have a release date in September and cost around the £1,000 mark.
This new device from Apple is rumoured to feature a major design overhaul with a giant screen that will stretch across the entire front of the phone.
Updated processor, new dual-lens camera and wireless charging are also expected along with the inclusion of facial recognition for improved security.
It’s expected to be a huge shake-up for the iPhone as the game-changing product celebrates its tenth birthday this year.
Renders, such as those made by Martin Hajek based on leaked info, have given a good idea of what the upcoming Apple device could look like.
There have been rumours that the Cupertino tech giant may delay the launch of the iPhone 8 to ensure enough are made in time for the big release.
And next week could prove crucial in determining when the iPhone 8 release date will be.
New iPhones tend to go on sale in September, which means Apple gets a few days of sales included in their third quarter earnings results.
In 2015, Apple sold 13million iPhones in the first weekend that the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus were available.
These sales were counted towards the September quarter.
When Apple publish their upcoming earnings report on August 1, it will give a good idea about when is the iPhone 8 release date.
If guidance for third-quarter revenue is on the high end, Apple may be expecting a few days of iPhone 8 sales to be included.
However, if guidance was on the lower end then it would suggest Apple do not expect the iPhone 8 to be in customers hands before October.
Earlier this week, BMO Capital Markets analyst Tim Long lowered estimates fir Apple’s September-quarter guidance.
This was "owing to our view that initial shipment volumes of the premium iPhone Pro will be limited."
First PICTURES of Apple's iPhone 8 LEAKED
He said: ”We are lowering our September unit and ASP assumptions slightly to reflect our view of limited volume shipments of the premium next-generation iPhone.”
In other iPhone 8 news, a new iOS 11 feature has all-but confirmed one feature coming to Apple’s next smartphone.
iOS 11 Beta 4 includes a plethora of new user interface elements, including a redesign for the Touch ID prompt when on the lock screen.
In the latest version of iOS 11, tapping on a notification will launch the corresponding app.
However, before the iPhone grants access to the iOS app – it will prompt you to unlock the smartphone with a large Touch ID symbol front-and-centre on the display.
This symbol – a fingerprint enclosed within the circle – appears in the middle of the screen with the message “Touch ID To Open Messages” or another app name.
This redesign seems like a pretty strong indication that rumours about Apple ditching the fingerprint scanner from its next iPhone in favour of facial scanning were untrue.
It's been rumoured also that the fingerprint scanner could be moved underneath the iPhone 8, with the home button ditched entirely, to make space for the huge display on the device's front screen.
