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Apple iPhone 8: Here's what we know to-date

By Cookie Monster - 12 Sep 2017

How many new iPhone models?

Apple iPhone 8 rumor round-up

This year could be Apple's most significant refresh of the iPhone since 2014 for two reasons. One, 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the iPhone and Apple is widely expected to celebrate it with a major product launch. Two, the iPhone design has not changed for three years, which led to speculation that we would be seeing a major design overhaul this time. There has been a flood of leaks and rumors for many months now, and as September approaches, now's the perfect time to round them up.

 

1.) How many new iPhone models? 

(Image source: 杨恩泽Eanling.)

Since 2015, Apple has been releasing two iPhone models during its annual September launch events. It broke tradition last year when the 4-inch iPhone SE was announced in March. Would we be seeing three new iPhone models this year? Could there be a fourth premium model to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the iPhone? Let's break it down.

Nikkei Asian Review was one of the first publications to speculate on the possibility of three iPhone models this year. Its source claimed that there would be three new models consisting of the three screen sizes (4.7, 5.0, and 5.5-inches). A Nov report by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo made a similar claim though he believed there would be two 5.5-inches models and one 4.7-inch model. 

Market intelligence firm TrendForce also agrees; there would be three iPhone models this year with only one top-end model using a new display panel. In May this year, purported molds of the three iPhone models surfaced on the Chinese social networking site Weibo. Perhaps the most reliable report comes from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who has a solid track record on Apple's upcoming products. He states that Apple is preparing three iPhones for launch, including upgraded versions of the existing two iPhone models and a new top-end model with a new look.

However, we cannot discount the other rumor of an iPhone SE refresh. After all, Apple claimed that there was sufficient demand for it to launch the iPhone SE last year and it has been more than a year since its debut.

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