Citing Apple’s supply chain sources, Taiwanese publication DigiTimes has published a new report that claims the upcoming iPhone 8 with an OLED display will feature a glass casing with a stainless steel frame in the middle.
The 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 7s models on the other hand are said to continue using an aluminum-alloy build as the current models. The aluminum-alloy chassis for the two phones will apparently be supplied by Catcher Technology. For the iPhone 8, the stainless steel metal frame will be supplied by Foxconn Technology and US-based Jabil Circuit. The glass casing should allow the iPhone 8 model to support wireless charging, a feature that rival Samsung has been offering on its flagship handsets for a long time now. The iPhone 7s and 7s Plus on the other hand, may not support wireless charging if the reports of an aluminum-alloy build turn out to be true.
Famous analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities has also revealed some interesting new info regarding the 5.8-inch iPhone 8 model. According to the analyst, Apple is using a stacked ‘substrate-like’ PCB mainboard on the iPhone 8, which will allow it to fit a 2700mAh capacity battery inside a chassis that is said to be similar to the current 4.7-inch iPhone 7 in terms of dimensions. The only way Apple could achieve that would be by getting rid of the bezels almost entirely.
The iPhone 8 with an OLED display is rumored to be the most expensive iPhone yet, with a rumored price tag of $1,000+.
Sources: DigiTimes, 9To5Mac
