Although Apple has yet to finalize details on this year's new iPhone release, fans are already looking far ahead as speculations on the upcoming devices surface online. According to rumors, Apple will switch to an all-glass iPhone construction beginning with next year's iPhone 8.
Reportedly, Apple's third-party assembler Foxconn is looking into the idea of an all-glass iPhone. According to Apple Insider, industry sources have claimed that the idea for an all-glass chassis for the next iPhone has been on the table as early as last year. However, the technology is still being considered, so it is not expected that the new frame will make it to this year's iPhone 7. Instead, it is said that Apple is focusing on an overhaul and major improvements for its smartphone lineup starting with the 2018 lineup, supposedly the iPhone 8.
The new technology will reportedly encase the whole iPhone into an all-glass body, instead of the regular front and back glass panels for the current-gen flagships. If this is true, Apple will again pave the way for another major smartphone improvement, since most current flagships still use a glass-and-metal construction. Usually, the smartphone is sandwiched between glass panels, with a metal frame on the sides.
Aside from an all-glass construction, the iPhone 8 is also said to feature other major improvements, such as a switch from the usual Retina LCD to OLED display, an A10X chipset, and major feature redesigns such as ditching the physical home button.
As for the iPhone 7, it is already expected that the upcoming flagship will not come out with astounding specs, as previous speculations suggested this year's lineup will only serve as an interim release before Apple overhauls the iPhone 8. Nonetheless, novel features are said to be included with the iPhone 7, including the absence of the 3.5 mm standard audio jack, a slimmer and thinner body, and slight upgrades for its under-the-hood specs.
