iPhone 8 release date rumors: Phone leaks reveal massive changes; no iPhone 8 for 2017?

iPhone 5Reuters/Beck Diefenbach

A photo purportedly showing the schematics of the iPhone 8 circulated the internet last week, and it features a lot of surprises for fans.

First revealed on Chinese site Weibo, the image runs contrary to the rumor that the upcoming device will have the fingerprint scanner installed on the back of the phone, as the schematics do not show this. This news may be welcomed by fans and critics alike, who took the possibility of the rear placement of the security feature negatively.

Another big change in the design shown on the schematics is the iPhone 8 no longer bearing a home screen, which is a ubiquitous feature of its previous designs. This may have been incorporated in response to the Samsung Galaxy S8 doing away with the home button.

BGR also interprets the diagram to mean that the phone will feature Qi wireless charging. It also theorizes that the antenna lines, which are seen on every iPhone released starting with iPhone 6, would likely be removed. The website also notes seemingly minor changes, including the vertical dual lens camera now placed on the same side as the volume rockers, and the SIM card tray now located on the left side instead of the right, which is the standard setup in previous iPhones.

In other news, Value Walk just published a report stating that the iPhone 8 is unlikely to be released within 2017. This conclusion was drawn following sources saying that Apple will only place orders for the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus, the latest phones released by the company. Nonetheless, the report also notes that many Apple observers still believe that a new phone will be released for the line to mark the iPhone's 10th anniversary in the market.

With all that said, it should be noted that these have not been confirmed to be genuine. As such, the presented information should be taken with a grain of salt.