Do you have $1,000 burning a hole in your pocket? Then Apple has a deal for you.
A decade after the debut of the Apple iPhone, industry watchers say the latest incarnation, the iPhone 8, will be unveiled Sept. 12 and Apple will start taking orders Sept. 15.
1. The first thing to know is the phone is widely expected to cost $1,000 or more. Some analysts say that is not really so surprising and not that much higher than the iPhone 7 Plus with 256GB. More bells and whistles cost more, and Apple users are accustomed to paying more for a premium device that has become such an integral part of modern life. There will be payment plans to spread out the pain.
But will it be worth the price to people currently getting by with an Android or a previous iPhone incarnation? That will depend on how much importance they place on frequently rumored features in the new iPhone.
2. Facial recognition. The iPhone 8 reportedly will include sensors to recognize its user's face, even in the dark, to unlock the device. It will also allow the user to make financial Apple Pay transactions. The front-facing camera reportedly will include 3-D recognition. This technology is said by some to be more secure than a fingerprint reader. Others disagree. Still others are concerned that a facial recognition system means that the phone has to always be "on" and potentially collecting information, and that such a system may be vulnerable to hacking with just a photograph.
3. Wireless charging. The back of the iPhone 8 reportedly will be glass to allow for wireless charging. According to macrumors.com Apple has filed patents for magnetic induction, but it may require an optional accessory to be purchased with the new device.
4. The home button will be removed. Many analysts, including appleinsider.com, are speculating that the iPhone 8 will do away with the button at the bottom of the phone in order to increase screen display to cover almost the entire face of the phone. The home button reportedly will be replaced with a virtual button.
5. A larger and brighter display. Some, including macworld.com, are predicting the new phone will not use LCD (liquid crystal display) but OLED (organic light-emitting diodes) instead. That does not require backlighting, allowing for a slimmer and lighter phone. It also uses less power and allows greater contrast and resolution and more true-to-life colors.
Then there is the anticipated iOS11, which is expected to follow the iPhone 8 debut. According to The New York Times, it will come with a feature to block notifications while you're driving. That can cut down the temptation to respond, which is dangerous. Apparently, Siri is getting a voice makeover. In addition, Siri will learn to anticipate what you want, such as suggesting searches in Safari or songs to hear.
Explore further: Huge changes are likely for the new iPhone 8, including a whopper of a price tag