All about iPhone 8 - Release date & news

The iPhone 8 release date could be on September 12, according to a rumor that gives us our first specific date for the smartphone announcement. The iPhone 8 release date and price rumors both have believable numbers attached to them. It's coming soon for a high price, according to new leaks, and there may be a unique unique 'blush gold' color.

We may be days away from the iPhone 8 launch, which is supposed to deliver us Apple's tenth anniversary smartphone with radical changes for 2017. It's about time, as we haven't seen a new look in three years of minor upgrades and Apple needs to match the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Prepare to be wowed!

What can you call it?

We're expecting three new iPhone models to launch at once. iPhone 8 is the default name we're using, but it could be iPhone Pro, iPhone X, or iPhone Edition. Why? This is way bigger than a modest iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus refresh that's still said to be on the way.

How will it look like?

Every iPhone 8 rumor gives us a sense that Apple is overhauling its phone with at least one premium design – what we're calling the iPhone 8 – while also providing a basic specs bump for an iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus with a slightly thicker glass design and wireless charging. Yes, that would mean three new iPhone models to choose from at once.

What will it cost?

A lot more than the normal $649 (£599, AU$1,079)

How about video shooting?

It looks very real, and we see every angle of the purported iPhone 8 in this new video from Tiger Mobiles and OnLeaks, but keep in mind it's built based on rumored specs and It's not an actual leaked handset. It's not a real iPhone 8 prototype, but the next best thing.

After this leak, a number of dummy units were shown off by a variety of video producers and you can watch one of them below. For example, the video below from Marques Brownlee shows a non-working unit of what we think may be the iPhone 8.

There's a fake screen in this video for illustration purposes, but it shows off the glass back, full-screen front and dual-camera on the rear of the phone.

Eagerly waiting?

The iPhone 8 release date could be on September 12, according to a rumor that gives us our first specific date for the smartphone.

Apple has launched a new iPhone in September every year since the iPhone 5 in 2012. September iPhone launches have a consistent track record. But the Cupertino-based company may do something radically different here, too.

We still expect Apple to have an iPhone launch event around September 12 and ship the 7S phones approximately one week after CEO Tim Cook first holds them up in the air. The 4K Apple TV may also launch then too.

iPhone 8 may deviate from this plan, launching a little bit later (still before Black Friday and Cyber Monday) due to reported production delays.

October or November may be the official release date window, according to recent rumors. Though Apple's latest earnings call forecasts a strong quarter through to the end of September, which suggests we'll get the iPhone 8 on or before September 31, the end of its fiscal calendar.

iPhone 8 in the US

The iPhone 8 may be the first mainstream smartphone to top $1,000, and that's a lower price than some analysts presume. Why? The bill of materials is going to be expensive and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 just launched with a $930 price tag, giving Apple the green light to charge $70 more.

US consumers should also watch to see is if Apple includes the faster modem of its current legal opponent Qualcomm, essentially delivering an unlocked iPhone 8 for all CDMA and GSM networks worldwide. Or maybe Intel modem will be able to achieve this feat for the first time.

Currently the iPhone 7 with the superior Qualcomm chip inside works on all four major US carriers, whereas those with the Intel modem only work on AT&T and T-Mobile and smaller carriers, which is annoying if you ever want to switch to Verizon and Sprint or sell your phone to more than half the country.

iPhone 8 in the UK

The iPhone is an incredibly popular phone in the UK, constantly topping the charts whenever a new model is released - and always has the new iPhone available to buy as part of the first wave.

We're expecting that the UK will be one of the more expensive places to buy the iPhone 8, and it could easily cost £900 or more to get the base model, although we expect it to be a touch more affordable than that.

This means contracts will start around £50 per month at least for minimal data, so get ready for an expensive handset - albeit one that you'll be able to get on every major network and most of the smaller ones.

iPhone 8 in Australia

In Australia, the iPhone is likewise one of the most popular phones around, and there's usually no delay when it comes to release date. In fact, due to its time zone, Australia is often one of the first places in the world to physically get its hands on the device — meaning there are always huge queues outside official Apple Stores, with people frequently camping out for up to a week in advance to get their hands on the new iPhone.

Something about screen and size

• 5.8-inch screen that stretches from edge-to-edge
• No top bezel or home button below – it's all screen
• Switching from LCD to an richer AMOLED display

The iPhone 8 screen may radically change in size and shape, and it's about time for something bigger and more stylish than an iPhone 6 and 6 Plus-era display.

Get ready for a 5.8-inch AMOLED display, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. It's said to sport a slight 2.5D curved, but nothing too different from iPhone 7. It won't be as sloped as Samsung's curved edges.

It's a big switch from 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones that use LCD displays. It can deliver better contrast, more vibrant colors and include a battery-saving always-on display. It's also better suited for VR and AR.

Don't worry! Even with a dramatically bigger screen size, the phone body won't be so big in your hand. In fact, it may be smaller the current iPhone 7 Plus.

How will it be a smaller phone yet have a bigger display?

iPhone 8 is likely to wipe away the top bezel (around the earpiece) making it all screen, and do the same by axing the physical home button. It's a lot like we saw with the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus.

That said, some rumors show a lip of bezel coming down from the top, containing the earpiece, front-facing LED flash and camera, in a similar fashion to the Essential Phone.

Interestingly, Samsung is said to be supplying the OLED screens, beating out Sharp, which was once rumored for the job. Samsung may be able to deliver more curved screen in time.

Thus, Apple may include it on just one iPhone 8 version.

What happens to the Touch ID fingerprint sensor?

The big iPhone 8 screen means big changes for Apple's classic home button. It's being replaced by an on-screen button, according to years of rumors. No physical home button isn't a big of a surprise. But what happens to the important Touch ID fingerprint sensor you use to unlock your phone?

Four predictions, some based on leaks and others on Apple patents, give us an idea what the iPhone 8 fingerprint sensor replacement will look like.

• The Touch ID sensor will be embedded into the screen
• It'll be located on the back, like the Samsung Galaxy S8
• It'll be on the side sleep/wake button, like some Sony phones
• There's no fingerprint sensor at all, relying on 3D face unlock

Face unlock is a new way to bypass the lock screen

Giving the iPhone 8 an even more futuristic vibe, Apple is said to be readying a 3D face-scanning sensor to unlock your iPhone 8.

It's either in place of or in addition to Touch ID. A face scanner is another feature Samsung tried to make work, but it turned out to be less secure. Apple may give it a go with the iPhone 8 using a much more advanced 3D sensor.

However, according to a source, Apple is having trouble perfecting the software. This could mean the face scanning tech will be built into the iPhone 8, but the feature might only be enabled after launch, sort of like we had to wait for Portrait mode with the iPhone 7 Plus.

The Camera

• A vertically-oriented dual-camera lens
• Augmented reality features
• 3D cameras

The iPhone 8 camera "can do extraordinary things," we fully expect Tim Cook to say on stage come September. "We never thought it possible before today."

AR developer tools have come to iOS 11 beta for existing phones. The iPhone 8 could take it one step further.

What can Apple do with AR?

You may be able to point your iPhone 8 at an object and have it recognized, claims one source “familiar with the matter.” The camera app may be able to recognize and manipulate faces in the future, too.

AR is supposed to map out where you want to go, and combined with Apple Pay, it could be a big winner for the iPhone 8.

AR seems to be the reason why we've seen allegedly leaked iPhone 8 schematics with a vertically aligned dual-lens camera on back. There's also talk from Korea that Apple is working with LG on a "3D photographing" module for the iPhone 8, which could be used to add three-dimensional effects and work with the rumored augmented reality features.

What about your everyday photography?

That could be upgraded, too, with the second lens on the dual-lens iPhone 8 gaining optical image stabilization.

There's also now been a mention of a 'SmartCam' feature spotted in the HomePod software. This is believed to be able to automatically recognize scenes and objects and adjust the camera settings accordingly.

We don't expect a bump beyond the 12MP sweet spot that Apple and other phone manufacturers have found, and don't look for the dual-lens snapper on the standard iPhone 7S. It's likely to once again be limited to this premium iPhone 8 Edition.

All-glass design

Just when Apple nearly perfected the aluminum unibody phone, it's now expected to be moving to an all-glass design. This is actually great news! A curved glass back on the iPhone 10th anniversary is for more than looks. It'll allow for iPhone 8 to wireless charge, as electricity doesn't pass straight through metal nearly as well. Think about it, all of those wireless charging phones out there have glass or plastic backs.

The CEO of one of Apple's suppliers has even let wireless charging slip, and a sound file hidden in the iOS 11 beta also points to wireless charging, as does a mention of inductive charging in Apple's HomePod software, so it looks almost certain that we'll see it in some form.

You'll still see a metal frame, of course, which would give the new phone a look not unlike the Samsung Galaxy S8. One source described the iPhone 8 as having a "glass sandwich design."

The Wireless charging?

What's less certain, according to the latest whispers, is whether it's going to be ready in time for the iPhone's launch. A delay has been echoed by another source, who says that wireless charging will probably be included, but may only be enabled after launch.

How many colors would be available?

Four iPhone 8 colors could include mirror-like finish and "Blush gold" could be a new color option, however, the rumored white color is in doubt. There may be new iPhone 8 colors on the horizon, namely there's talk of a fresh mirror-like finish to at least one of the colors, according to one leaker.

The return of colors like black and rose gold are expected, and then there's the one-again, off-again rumor that Apple could debut an all-white iPhone 8.

iPhone rumors about the color are generally the last bit of news we hear about right before launch, with one color – usually black – dominating leaks. However, one bit of news that we've been hearing is that Apple could release a surprising, new color called Blush Gold. If we had to break it down, we'd say it looks like the rose gold option, but with a tinge of copper added to it for a darker look.

Waterproof!!!!

The last major iPhone 8 design rumor is that the new phone could get a little more waterproof. It may jump from an IP67 to IP68 rating.

Could be more waterproof than the iPhone 7

That means you can submerge it a little deeper into water without (too much) fear of ruining your brand new iPhone. (We still suggest not testing it.)

iPhone 7 can last 1m (3.3 feet) under water for 30 minutes, while the iPhone 8 would be able to survive 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) under water.

The battery life and USB-C

• More battery life via bigger capacity, OLED screen
• Fast charging in addition to wireless charging
• USB-C could replace Lightning cables

iPhone 8 could feature longer battery life, according one analyst who thinks that Apple may switch to a stacked mainboard internal design. This would open up extra room for a larger capacity iPhone 8 battery, and we already know OLED displays are better a preserving power. When exhibiting blacks, OLED display pixels are essentially turned off.

Apple may phase out the lightning port with the iPhone 8, switching to USB-C, according to several reports. This would match the MacBook and MacBook Pro and might enable faster charging.

Free AirPods?

• A Smart Connector

One analyst has suggested Apple will bundle some free AirPods in with the premium iPhone 8 - that would be nice, but we'd recommend you don't hold your breath on that one.

We might also see a Smart Connector on the iPhone 8. This was rumored for inclusion on the iPhone 7 Pro – a phone which never launched, but with numerous pictures of a phone sporting the Connector it seems likely that Apple really was considering it, so the feature might be ready by next year.

We've already seen a Smart Connector on the iPad Pro, where it's primarily used to attach accessories, like keyboards.

Do not expect from the iPhone 8

• Foldable iPhone 8 is farfetched
• Wireless charging from across the room
• Bad guy catching thief protection

This is not all!

We'll be updating this page every day from now until the Apple launch event, when we expect to go hands-on with the 10th Anniversary iPhone.