Apple is not set to release any iPhones yet, but the rumor mill is working double time speculating on what the next set of smartphones would feature. The company will reportedly release three models in 2017, which will feature an OLED display and without a home button.
Leaked manufacturing documents suggest that the three models scheduled for release in 2017 are internally called D20, D21 and D22, according to Chinese tech website CNBeta. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were called internally as D10 and D20.
The rumored D20 and D21 units are said to be an upgrade of this year's smartphones. Apple will allegedly be utilizing the remaining components that were not used for the current handsets, but with some minor upgraded parts. The translated report even added that these two upcoming devices will be called iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus.
Previously, it was also rumored that the 7s and 7s Plus will sport a crimson-colored variant. This is in addition to the standard gold, rose gold, silver, black and jet black.
Meanwhile, the so-called D22 unit or iPhone 8 is allegedly the top-tier new model for 2017 and is codenamed Ferrari. The model is said to feature a curved plastic OLED display, not glass, and will incorporate a new sensing technology that will render the home button obsolete. The fingerprint sensor will be included underneath the glass display instead, Mac World reported.
The OLED displays will reportedly be manufactured by Samsung Display, with an estimated 70 to 100 million pieces needed for the D22 model. The other two 2017 models will just use a flat LCD panel coming from LG and JDI.
It is also speculated that an all glass casing will be included with the rumored models. This is said to facilitate faster wireless charging compared to metal- and plastic-made cases, due to the possible impurities that may cause frequency disruptions.
Additionally, the iPhone 8 is expected to have a 5.5-inch OLED display screen with a dual-camera setup. It is rumored that the iPhone 7s Plus will likewise have the same screen size and camera setup but will have an LCD screen. The third, the rumored iPhone 7s, will be smaller, with a 4.7-inch LCD screen and a single camera system.
Tech observers are expecting that Apple will release something special in 2017 since the iPhone will be celebrating its 10th year anniversary. Here is a clip about the iPhone 8: