iPhone 8 release date, specs rumors: next flagship iPhone with OLED panel may have smaller active display area

A promotional image for the iPhone 7.Apple

The iPhone 7 just came out a couple of months ago, but even before it hit the market there were already reports saying Apple was already planning to move forward with the iPhone 8. And if the rumors are true, it's not going to be anything like its predecessors. While industry insiders generally agree that the premium model of the iPhone 8 will have an OLED display, they seem to be giving conflicting reports on the display size.

The most recent report comes from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, and he believes the iPhone 8 will come in three different display sizes. He said the premium model will have a 5.8-inch OLED panel; however, the active screen area will only be between 5.1 to 5.2 inches. Kuo also stated that Apple will release a 4.7-inch model and a 5.5-inch model with traditional LCD displays. It is believed that the two standard models may look like the current iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and they will have glass casings as well.

Well, the 5.8-inch OLED model will obviously be the flagship smartphone once it comes out, but Kuo believes the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models will share the same specs. Both models should also be cheaper.

While reports regarding the display change from week to week, the rumored specs and features of the iPhone 8 remain largely the same. Sources say the smartphone will be equipped with an A11 processor and it will have a bezel-less, edge-to-edge display. As expected, the Home button will be removed and the Touch ID feature will be integrated into the display. The iPhone 8 will allegedly feature wireless charging. The smartphone should also have dual-lens cameras similar to the iPhone 7 Plus.

Industry insiders believe Apple will release the iPhone 8 in September 2017, so the company should have lots of time to iron out all the kinks.

Meanwhile, readers are advised to take everything with a grain of salt because Apple has yet to announce that the iPhone 8 is being developed.