Leaked Molds Provide iPhone 8, 7s, and 7s Plus Size Comparison
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Images of what appear to be external housing molds surfaced over the weekend, allegedly showing us for the very first time a relative size comparison between Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7s, iPhone 7s Plus, and the highly-anticipated iPhone 8. The images shown below, which supposedly leaked from Apple’s supply chain, were published to Twitter this morning by Benjamin Geskin — the same concept artist who previously shared a myriad of leaked images, schematics, and information about Apple’s upcoming iPhone 8 — which could also be re-branded the iPhone Edition — with iDrop News.
Are These Molds The Real Deal?
Whether the molds embody actual iPhone shells or whether they’re merely being used in the production of 3rd-party cases remains unclear at this time. However they do, either way, appear to align just beautifully with a number of previous rumors about the relative size of Apple’s 2017 iPhone lineup. Back in February of this year, famed KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo went on record suggesting that the iPhone 8 — despite its larger, 5.8-inch OLED display — would fit within a chassis not much larger than Apple’s standard, 4.7-inch iPhone 7.
This feat could be achieved due to the use of a nearly edge-to-edge OLED display— meaning that the front of the iPhone Edition would be almost entirely amassed by touchscreen, and feature minimal bezels on either edge.
What Else Do These Molds Reveal?
While we can’t guarantee their authenticity, the leaked molds would lend a ton of credence to previous rumors about the $1,099 iPhone’s dimensions, design, and features. For example, iDrop News was the first to reveal that the iPhone Edition would feature a vertically oriented, dual-lens camera system around back, which we can see clearly in the images of the molds. As unnecessary and unconventional as the design may seem, the vertical camera system will actually benefit the iPhone’s photography prowess, particularly when the device is used in landscape mode.
Additionally, reports have conflicted about the nature and positioning of Apple’s Touch ID sensor on the iPhone Edition, with some claiming that Touch ID will be embedded underneath the device’s OLED display glass, and others suggesting that Touch ID will move to the rear of the device similar to Samsung’s latest Galaxy S8 flagships. However both of those scenarios have since been supported and debunked, respectively, with some analysts saying that Apple was unable to incorporate an under-the-glass Touch ID solution due to low-production yields. If indeed they are the real deal, however, these case molds would appear to suggest that Touch ID will be integrated into the front of the iPhone Edition, which is likely to be unveiled alongside the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus this September.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
