According to rumors, Apple will be launching its smartphone follow-up, the iPhone 7, later this year. However, new speculations suggest that the upcoming flagship will only offer tweaks and improvements over its predecessor. Instead, it is being said that the Cupertino-based tech giant is working for a major overhaul on its handset lineup next year, after the iPhone 7 launch.

According to 9to5Mac, new observations have come out from KGI Securities analyst and perennial Apple soothsayer Ming-Chi Kuo. Reportedly, Apple will be doing a major overhaul of its iPhone lineup starting with the 2018 follow-up to the iPhone 7. Aside from upgrading its components under the hood, the upcoming new iPhone will also get major improvements on its design and form factor.

Kuo believes that one of the major improvements starting with the 2018 iPhone (it is unclear if it will be an iPhone 7s, or iPhone 8), the Cupertino-based tech giant will be incorporating a curved design in the handset. The material, however, will remain glass, much like how the iPhone 4 was constructed. According to Kuo, plastic and ceramic will not be factored into the design, "as plastic doesn't offer thin and light form factor designs, and it would be not easy to precisely control the tolerance of ceramic."

In terms of a curved design, the form factor will be a completely new one, making the new iPhone have a "more comfortably grip." One of the features that may possibly make this design change possible is a switch from LCD to OLED displays, and Kuo also touched on the subject on his notes.

Allegedly, Apple will be using OLED displays starting with the 2018 iPhone, which will make it more flexible and easier to incorporate design changes in the form factor. In addition, OLED displays also offer lower power consumption and deliver efficient performance than LCDs.

It should be said that these are mere speculations at this point. Some industry observers, however, are taking notice of Kuo's predictions, seeing as the analyst have made spot-on guesses on past Apple moves and product introductions.