Conquering China is certainly part of Apple's agenda as the tech giant starts drawing up the plans for the iPhone 8 release date in 2017. And a new report indicates that one surefire way that Chinese buyers will be lured in to the next iPhone is the introduction of dual-SIM feature to the iOS flagship.
The move, obviously, is to capitalize on the popular handset feature in China and is nothing new as far as iPhone rumors are concerned, WCCFTech said on its report. In the past, Apple has been rumored to adopt the functionality that is in widespread use by Android device makers and has picked up considerable traction in the Chinese smartphone. But the iPhone 7 was issued this year and no dual-Sim was included.
But things could change in 2017 and in time for the tenth anniversary of the iPhone brand. Part of the iPhone 8 thrust next year is a China-only iPhone 8 edition that will permit the use of two SIMs at the same time. "Chinese sources claim that Apple will launch a special variant of the iPhone for the country," WCCFTech reported.
The same report pointed to a Chinese executive as source of the information. And the feature introduction is further supported by a new Apple patent filing that detailed on the planned "dual SIM function and dual SIM power management for mobile devices."
The report added that a dual-SIM iPhone 8 makes sense as the feature is popular not only in China but in numerous Asian and European market. And the functionality added to the next iPhone is a good step for Apple to win more buyers in China as dual-SIM handsets are proven bestsellers in the country.
However, there was no mention in the report if the dual-SIM iPhone 8 will carry the same price as the regular edition or will it be cheaper or pricier.
Recent reports have indicated that at least one iPhone model next year, possibly the biggest of the class at 5.8-inch with curved OLED display, will unbox with up to $200 premium from the $769 tag of the basic iPhone 7 Plus. And the 2017 refresh will boast of touch buttons with sensor in lieu of the physical Home and other control keys, somehow confirming of the design and build makeover that the next iPhone will unpack with.
The iPhone 8 release date is likely set to happen September 2017 but it could be pushed back to October or November as supply chain rumors claimed that mass production of the next-generation iOS flagship will not start until July or August next year.