Apple is celebrating 10 years of iPhone in 2017 and it's planning something special to mark the occasion, but the premium iPhone 8 might see a notable delay.
The very first iPhone hit the scene back in 2007, when the concept of "smartphone" was still new and the mobile market was vastly different from what it is today. Things have come a long way since and the iPhone had an impressive growth, with Apple and Samsung now ruling the smartphone game as the undisputed leaders.
3 iPhone Models In 2017
To celebrate the iPhone's 10th anniversary this year, Apple is reportedly planning to release three iPhone models - two smartphones with incremental upgrades, which may arrive as the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus, and a third handset with premium specs and a complete overhaul, which is expected to launch as the iPhone 8.
Apple is expected to unveil all three 2017 iPhone models at the same time, but the premium iPhone 8 might not go on sale until later in the year.
iPhone 8 Delay
According to a new report from Bloomberg, the overhauled iPhone 8 could see a significant delay of "one or two months" compared to the company's regular launch schedule. The premium handset is reportedly more difficult to manufacture, so it will take longer to bring it to market.
Bloomberg's report echoes similar news from Japanese outlet Mac Otakara, which revealed back in early March that the iPhone 8 might arrive later than the other two 2017 iPhone models.
The iPhone 8 is reportedly more difficult to manufacture because it will boast a design overhaul with a larger, curved-edge display that will cover most of the front panel - much like Samsung's redesigned Galaxy S8.
iPhone 8 In-Display Fingerprint Authentication
Apple is reportedly experimenting with fingerprint authentication as well, considering embedding the fingerprint scanner into the display. In-display fingerprint authentication would likely boost the iPhone 8's appeal, but it would also increase the complexity of manufacturing the device, thus further contributing to the delay.
Samsung wanted to embed the fingerprint scanner into the display of the Galaxy S8 as well, and it even started working on it with Synaptics, but ultimately dropped the plan and launched its flagship with a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, uncomfortably placed right next to the rear camera.
Rumor has it that Samsung ran out of time implementing the technology and rather than delaying the Galaxy S8 launch, it opted for a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner instead. The company will likely implement the in-display fingerprint authentication with the Galaxy Note 8 expected later this year.
Apple Innovation: iPhone 8 Design Overhaul
Based on the latest reports, it seems that Apple is willing to delay the iPhone 8's market release to achieve the design overhaul it plans. Looking at the big picture, it makes sense.
Samsung had to make up for the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, so it couldn't afford to delay the Galaxy S8 release. Apple, on the other hand, has been facing criticism over its lack of innovation in recent years and with the iPhone's 10th anniversary this year, it needs something big - releasing a boring iPhone 8 could be worse than delaying it.
The iPhone 8 is further rumored to boast a number of innovative features such as a 3D, depth-sensing front camera, an OLED display, fast charging, and more. The upgrades and the design overhaul would delay the iPhone 8's release, but might make it worth the wait. Since it's all in the rumor state, however, take all leaks and reports with a grain of salt.
