Twin reports concerning the iPhone 8’s launch date and cost have emerged recently, making things a bit more murky in Apple land. The premium handset is expected to come out along with the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus this year, but all 3 may not be unveiled at the same time.
The Economic Daily News claims that Apple is going to delay the iPhone 8 to October or November 2017 instead of sticking to its traditional September timeframe. The company is apparently facing technical issues with regards to the lamination process of its curved OLED screens and its new 3D sensing system.
Last we heard, Apple was set to launch its 2017 iPhones in September but offer the iPhone 8 in limited quantities at first. This is pretty much what happened with the Jet Black iPhone 7 last year. However, a separate report had alleged that the brand was going to postpone the iPhone 8, effectively falling in line with the latest rumor.
Also Read: Apple, Samsung ink deal to supply 70 million OLED screens for iPhone 8
As for the so-called iPhone Edition’s cost, UBS analyst Steven Milunovich thinks the basic 64GB model will go for $850 (approx Rs 55200) or $900 (roughly Rs 58500) in the US. The 256GB variant may top out at $950 (about Rs 61700) or $1000 (around Rs 65000). The iPhone 7s and 7s Plus may likely begin at $649 (roughly Rs 42200) and $749 (approx Rs 48700), respectively.
The $850 figure is close to the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus’ $840 cost. Apple is apparently looking to price its products competitively against its biggest rival, especially in consideration of the fact that its 5.8-inch iPhone 8 is smaller compared to the 6.2-inch S8.
Milunovich’s take is in stark contrast to previous reports which stressed that the premium OLED iPhone would kick things off at $1000, not end there. His predictions are a bit more palatable considering the ultimate 256GB iPhone 7 Plus currently sets buyers back by $970.