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iPhone 8 could have ‘specialised’ model with one brand new feature

It’s long been rumoured that Apple will adopt OLED screens for the iPhone 8, but not all iPhones are born equal…

Apple could release a “specialised” version of the iPhone 8 that features an OLED display, leaving other iPhone 8 models using traditional LCD screen technology. That’s according to Hendi Susanto, a research analyst at Gabelli & Co, who issued advice to investors after conversations with OLED maker Universal Display.

Hendi thinks that although OLED is coming to Apple smartphones, we may see “partial adoption”, i.e. only the iPhone 8 Plus (should it exist) will get the feature. Here’s the quote in question, as published by Barrons:

“Speculation regarding the potential adoption of OLED displays by Apple continues to dominate major discussions with investors. The current speculation anticipates Apple’s adopted of OLED displays in its iPhone in 2017 or 2018. We believe that Apple can adopt OLED displays sooner rather than later by pursuing a partial adoption and incorporating it in a specialised edition of a new iPhone version.”

Samsung Galaxy 9Samsung’s Galaxy S7 already features an OLED display

OLED displays already exist in the wild, and are commonplace on flagship smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy range. Unlike conventional displays, OLED screens feature pixels that produce their own light, which means a backlight isn’t necessary – that saves some space. This also means that you can leave pixels off to produce black, which means (1) you get truer blacks, and (2) you save battery life. Unfortunately, Apple has yet to adopt this already popular technology.

The iPhone 8 is expected to usher in significant changes to Apple smartphone design, in contrast to the supposedly iterative iPhone 7 design we’re likely to see revealed this September. The iPhone 8, which is due to arrive in September 2017, will mark the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, and has been mooted to debut a new all-glass chassis design.

Related: Best Android Smartphones 2016

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What would you like to see from the iPhone 8? Let us know in the comments.

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