Contents
- > When is the iPhone 8s coming out?
- > How much will the new iPhone cost?
- > What is the difference between the iPhone 8s and iPhone 8s Plus?
- > What else is new in the 2018 iPhones?
- > What will the new iPhone look like?
There's a lot of debate over what the new iPhone in 2018 will be called. Apple confused the situation somewhat in 2017 by releasing an iPhone 8 (and 8 Plus) and an iPhone X, pronounced 'ten'. Usually we would expect to see the iPhone 8 followed by an 8s, then 9, 9s, and finally 10.
That can't realistically happen now, so it's quite possible that Apple will drop its numbering scheme and we'll get simply iPhone (2018) and iPhone Plus (2018). And rather than a follow-up to the new-design iPhone X, the standard iPhone line will simply incorporate its new features. The bad news is that should mean we're in for a price rise, too.
There is such a huge number of rumours surrounding these new devices - none of them confirmed by Apple - and so many rumour round-ups that go on for several thousand words and leave you just as baffled as when you began reading. In this article we're going back to basics for you - an idiot's guide, if you will, to what to expect from the next iPhone.
When is the iPhone 8s coming out?
The invitations have not yet gone out, but history tells us the iPhone announcement will take place in mid-September 2018. The most likely iPhone 8s release date is Wednesday 12 September, but we'll confirm when we know more.
Analysts aren't agreed on whether or not a third model carrying a 6.1in LCD screen will launch beside these new iPhones in September or if it will come later in November. You can read more about the iPhone SE 2 here.
Code has been found in the fifth beta of iOS 12 that points to the possibility of dual-SIM iPhones for the first time, but whether these models will become available in the UK or US remains to be seen.
How much will the new iPhone cost?
Ming-Chi Kuo, previously of KGI Securities, now operating at TF International Securities and one of the best-known sources for Apple leaks, says the 2018 iPhones will cost less than the iPhone X, but more than the current generation. He predicts a price between £900/US$900- and £1,000/$1,000 for the iPhone 8s Plus, and between £800/$800- and £900/$900 for the iPhone 8s.
That's quite a bit more expensive than the current range, of course, with the iPhone 8 available from £699/$699 and the 8 Plus from £799/$799 (buy direct from Apple), but still less than the iPhone X, which starts at £999/$999.
The cheaper iPhone SE 2 may cost between £600/$600- and £700/$700, according to Kuo.
What is the difference between the iPhone 8s and iPhone 8s Plus?
Of the three new iPhones rumoured to launch in September 2018, size is the primary differentiator. The standard iPhone 8s will arrive with a 5.8in screen (up from 4.7in), while the Plus model is going up to 6.5in (from 5.5in). Expect AMOLED panels that span the full length of the phones, complete with the notch that was introduced with the iPhone X to house the FaceTime camera and sensors.
The iPhone SE 2 sits in the middle with a 6.1in screen, but it's a lower-quality LCD panel and has thicker bezels. The 6.1in iPhone will have Face ID but not 3D Touch, and there will be just a single-lens camera at the rear - unlike the Plus, which has two. Triple cameras have been tipped, but we think it unlikely for this generation of iPhones.
As a result of the differing sizes battery capacity will also vary between the models, but all three will ship with a super-fast 18W USB-C adaptor. The iPhones themselves will still charge over a Lightning connection, but now in the box you'll find a USB-C to Lightning cable rather than the previous full-size USB variety. Only the iPhone 8s and 8s Plus will support wireless charging (up to 7.5W).
In the past we've also seen the Plus model feature enhanced cameras over the standard iPhone, but we've not heard anything concrete on that yet. Apple likes to keep some surprises for launch day.
What else is new in the 2018 iPhones?
In line with the recently announced Samsung Galaxy Note 9 we can expect a top storage option of 512GB (64GB and 256GB options also available) and support for Apple's £89/$99 Pencil stylus - but expect to pay handsomely for the privilege.
There will be 4GB of RAM, which is just half what you get with some Android flagship phones, but performance will be significantly faster. This will be thanks to the inclusion of a new Apple A12 processor, an upgrade on the current generation's A11 Bionic. It's likely that these will be 7nm chips (most top-end Androids are currently running 10nm processors), with TSMC reportedly having begun mass production.
If this is true then in real-world terms you can expect a 20 percent speed boost and 40 percent reduction in power consumption. A phone logged as the 'iPhone11,2' in the Geekbench 4 database has been seen to clock up a massive 10,912-point score in the mult-core component, which is higher than anything we've seen before (the iPhone X managed 10,123 in our own tests).
Of course the new iPhones will be running iOS 12 out of the box, too.
What will the new iPhone look like?
There have been many images of leaked front panels, screen protectors and cases designed for the 2018 iPhones, all backing up the theory of three iPhones with 5.8-, 6.1- and 6.5in screens, and that none will feature a physical home button. There is also talk of a smaller screen notch than on the iPhone X.
The closest thing we have to an actual image of the iPhone 8s, iPhone 8s and iPhone SE 2 comes from a video of some dummy models, shown at the top of this page.
Adding fuel to rumours that the 6.1in iPhone is going to be another special edition is talk of it being available in more colours than the standard iPhone range. While Apple's top-end iPhones are typically fashioned in space grey, silver, gold (unlike the iPhone X) and later red, the cheap iPhone may arrive in grey, white, blue, red and orange.
Expect the cheaper model to feature a metal rear, while the 8s and 8s Plus must have a glass back to allow for wireless charging.
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