Citing industry sources, Barclays analyst Mark Moskowitz has said that Apple is considering moving away from its usual upgrade cycle by following this year’s iPhone 7 with, in 2017, not an iPhone 7S, but instead an iPhone 8 – with probable big changes including an OLED display and wireless charging.
In a note to investors sent earlier this week and reported by Fortune, Moskowitz revealed that, according to his supply chain checks, the iPhone 7 expected later this year will consist of just a few tweaks and updated components in comparison to the currently available iPhone 6S. However, he added that a number of dramatic changes could be in store for the next year’s iPhone…
According to his sources, “the jump could showcase major form factor changes, including OLED, no home button, and wireless charging”. Reflecting the major step up, Moskowitz noted, Apple might go for the iPhone 8 moniker – while these possible new features “could drive a mega cycle”. This is in comparison to the iPhone 7, which “could be more of a replacement cycle”.
Moskowitz certainly isn’t alone in expecting a significant revamp for the iPhone in 2017. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a record of accurate predictions about future Apple products, recently suggested that Apple could choose an all-glass enclosure for next year’s handset.
