KGI's 10 iPhone predictions: slimmest bezels ever on the OLED model
Reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI delivered his 10 predictions for the upcoming iPhones, adding to what he has speculated on in the past. For starters, there will be three iPhones: the usual 4.7” and 5.5” models with LCD panels (7s and 7s Plus) along with the OLED-packing iPhone 8.
The latter will be a good deal more advanced than the 7s duo and will go completely bezel-less – thanks to the earpiece that cuts into the OLED panel and the virtual Home button, Apple will stretch the 5.8” display to the very edge – the highest screen-to-body ratio of any phone in the market!
It’s quite possible that there won’t be a fingerprint reader, it certainly won’t be under the display. Instead of moving it to the back or putting it on the Power key, Kuo believes that Apple will replace the fingerprint reader with a 3D sensing selfie camera. As a side bonus, the quality of the selfie camera will be much improved.
The new flagship model will have a function area on the bottom of the screen, not just a virtual Home button.
In terms of memory, the iPhone 8 and 7s Plus will get 3GB of RAM, the 4.7” will stay at 2GB. The smallest model will once again miss out on the dual camera action. Storage options will be available across the three models – 64GB and 256GB, that’s it.
Interestingly, Kuo believes that the new iPhone trio will implement the USB Power delivery standard over the proprietary Lightning port.
The forecast is for the three handsets to be unveiled simultaneously in September, but the iPhone 8 could go on sale later than the 7s duo. Limited supply of the OLED model may not improve until the first half of 2018 passes.
Even so, KGI predicts Apple will be able to move 80-85 million iPhones by the end of 2017, about half of which will be iPhone 8 units. That’s much better than some pessimistic predictions of OLED supplies. What will be in short supply, according to Kuo, is color options for the iPhone 8 to “maintain its boutique image”.
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Reader comments
- Anonymous
- 06 Jul 2017
- fDh
Apple should slim down the side bezels as well to fit with the new so called bezelless desigh
- AnonD-24741
- 04 Jul 2017
- mY{
Considering an iPhone is mostly bezel with a bit of screen in the middle, that would not be hard to achieve.
- Anonymous
- 04 Jul 2017
- iu8
Very.. well.. said!!