• An Apple iPhone 7s is seen in the upgraded Apple store on Regent Street on October 13, 2016 in London, England.

An Apple iPhone 7s is seen in the upgraded Apple store on Regent Street on October 13, 2016 in London, England. (Photo : Getty Images/Leon Neal)

Three new iPhone 8 models are expected in 2017 with the 4.7-inch variant looming as the mid-range of the class. This device will continue to use LCD screen display technology but carry the same new design and features the bigger models will have to offer.

The most striking difference that the 4.7-inch iPhone 8 variant will have is the screen display. As most know, Apple is expected to shift to OLED screen technology for the big-screened and advanced models, MacRumors reported.

Like Us on Facebook

With the 4.7-inch iPhone 8 model looming as the least interesting of the lot, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo explains that this model will continue to tote the same all-glass design plus new features that from the higher models.

Despite beliefs that the 4.7-inch iPhone 8 may be overshadowed by old technology, Kuo adds that this would be Apple’s way to keep demand in place for smaller handsets. With an expected all-glass design packed with features that include wireless charging, the smallest of the iPhone 8 clan is expected to fare well against the heavyweight OLED-backed Apple flagships, Yahoo reported.

Interest on the 4.7-inch iPhone 8 is expected low for now. However, the attention is expected to change once Apple officially reveals what features the handset would carry. Apple has yet to spill some of the expected features, most of which have come from the grapevine.

As mentioned in a previous post, the 4.7-inch iPhone 8 is expected to be a key contributor to the iPhone shipments. Possibly known also as the iPhone 7s, the mid-range device will account for 30 to 35 percent of the iPhone shipments for the fiscal year of 2017. The bulk of the shipments is of course expected to come from the main iPhone 8 flagships, estimated to be around 50 to 55 percent.

If Kuo’s insights are reliable as usual, it could be a big turnaround for the Cupertino company who has been keeping its head afloat with poor sales numbers. With a redesigned iPhone coming in 2017, better days could be ahead for Apple.

For the meantime, check out the latest updates for the iPhone 8 as rumors continue to grow via the video below.