Apple's 2017 Curved OLED iPhone to Be a New Premium Model

[canyonblue737]

I know the 5.5 Plus sized models are popular but from what I understand they are still only about 30% of the iPhones sold. This rumor suggests that the ONLY model getting an OLED screen and fancy new design is the "Plus" sized 5.5+ versions with older style flat LCDs remaining in the normal sized versions. As someone who has had the bread and butter models from 3G to 4 to 5 to 6 to 6S this is terrible, terrible news. As is I am sad we aren't getting a large update THIS YEAR but the idea that next year if I am not willing to get a phablet I once again miss out on high end tech is very upsetting.

Hope this is all rumor.

 

[atmc]

Hope this is not true. It is just ridiculous if the best features are coming only to the bigger models.

 

[v0lume4]

If Apple keeps adding new a new iPhone variations every couple of years like the trend has been lately, by 2020 we will have 5-6 flagship iPhones to choose from.

Couldn't have said it better myself:

iPhone 8 Edge S Pro+

 

[RedOrchestra]

Ill be getting an iPhone 7, then 7s or whatever they call it. They won't have curved screens.

REALLY ... doesn't sound like you're too enthused about the 7 in an earlier post you made

"The beautiful iPhone 7B Plus has been given an extended Bump on the camera lense to make your Bump feel even more Bumpier. People will know when you Bump them, before you even Bump them."
[doublepost=1471908609][/doublepost]

Seriously... Curved screen. You Gotta be kidding me.. Apple cant be that stupid.

"There’s palpable concern Apple is losing its magic. Tim Cook says that’s not so."

“We have great innovation in the pipeline, like new iPhones that will incent you and other people that have iPhones today to upgrade to new iPhones,” Cook said on the show. “We are going to give you things that you can’t live without, that you just don’t even know you need today. You will look back and wonder ‘how did I live without this?”

 

[kdarling]

I am seriously impressed by the Note 7. Apparently so is App$e.

I think that Cook is doing what he easily can do to take away a lot of Samsung sales advantages, which is to add their most popular features to the Apple lineup.

This started with the iPad mini arising from an Apple exec using a small Samsung tablet, and later progressed to Apple coming out with larger screen iPhones. Those were two large market slots which Apple had previously left to Samsung and others.

Under Cook, Apple has also added pen support, video PIP, waterproofing, and it sounds like quick charging and edge displays are next. All are features that have helped Samsung get sales that might otherwise have gone to Apple.

So it's a smart move. It's similar to the way that auto makers follow each other's shapes and colors and features. Not adopting popular features often leads to lost sales. And who knows, perhaps this is also Cook's not so subtle way of showing Samsung that copying features can cut both ways.

 

[Sevendaymelee]

I think that Cook is doing what he easily can do to take away a lot of Samsung sales advantages, which is to add their most popular features to the Apple lineup.

This started with the iPad mini arising from an Apple exec using a small Samsung tablet, and later progressed to Apple coming out with larger screen iPhones. Those were two large market slots which Apple had previously left to Samsung and others.

Under Cook, Apple has also added pen support, video PIP, waterproofing, and it sounds like quick charging and edge displays are next. All are features that have helped Samsung get sales that might otherwise have gone to Apple.

So it's a smart move. It's similar to the way that auto makers follow each other's shapes and colors and features. Not adopting popular features often leads to lost sales. And who knows, perhaps this is also Cook's not so subtle way of showing Samsung that copying features can cut both ways.

Yes, but Apple's demand has slipped. Why is that? If copying Samsung=more money, then why are their sales declining? The reason Apple became Apple is because Jobs came back and axed 70% of the product line. He simplified and streamlined a bloated mess. He knew it was better to offer one iPhone with all features than four iPhones with different features. Under his leadership, the profits and sales arch was constantly trending up. Under this leadership, it's going the opposite direction because they're once again releasing too many products and trying to copy other people's designs instead of creating their own.

 

[brendu]

Reducing the number of models was the first thing Steve Jobs did when he returned to Apple. There are very good reasons for having a lean product range.

Apple was also broke at that point.

 

[KanosWRX]

Seriously they want to copy the worst feature of a galaxy phone? Come on Apple, have all of steves ideas dried up and you have no more innovation left in you? I'm not saying you have to do anything earth shattering every year, but curved edges are just dumb!

 

[44267547]

Ugh. Not everyone who wants "premium" features also wants a giant phone.

On the other hand, I'm not sure why I would want a curved display. What are the advantages?

Exactly. The iPhone 6s Plus has optical image stabilization, Portrait/landscape mode and a 1080 P LED screen. I would love to see those features on the 4.7 iPhone. Rumor is optical image stabilization will be integrated into the iPhone 7, 4.7 model. Consumers should not have to purchase the largest and more expensive iPhone to have additional premium features.

 

[HiVolt]

That edition is going to look just like the 6, 6s, and maybe 7 - you OK with that?

They can still make it look better, maybe with better materials, a different rear, etc... I don't care for the look as much as the function, and a curved display just isn't a function that's necessarily smart for the reasons I outlined. To me personally anyway. I always have a case on my phone anyway for protection. I've dropped them many times over the years and even one on the subway tracks and never had a cracked screen. I see so many people with cracked phones, and the edge display just screams for that.

 

[Michael Cavada]

Apple is planning to release at least three new iPhones next year, including a high-end model with a 5.5-inch-or-larger OLED display that is curved on both sides like Samsung's Galaxy S7 edge, according to Nikkei. The other two models are said to be 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models with flat LCD displays like the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, corroborating previous reports.

The report reiterates that Samsung is expected to be Apple's primary supplier of OLED displays, but it may be unable to fully keep up with demand for both iPhones and its own Galaxy smartphones. Recognizing the opportunity, Apple manufacturer Foxconn has been developing glass casings and OLED displays over the past year, in hopes of securing orders from its biggest customer next year.

Apple's widely rumored transition towards OLED in 2017 is requisite for curved displays, while the technology also provides improved contrast, faster response times, better viewing angles, better power efficiency for typical mixed image content, and other benefits compared to LCD technology. Samsung's Galaxy S7 makes a compelling case for Apple's rumored switch to OLED technology.

Today's report corroborates KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who earlier said Apple may launch an all-new iPhone with a curved 5.8-inch AMOLED display and glass casing in 2017. Kuo's research note outlined three new iPhone models, including LCD-based 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models and a high-end OLED-based 5.8-inch model, as one possibility providing supply of AMOLED displays is sufficient.

When applied to the height of an existing 5.5-inch iPhone, a 5.8-inch display like the one Apple is rumored to be working on would leave an extra 7.25mm of display on each side that could be used to wrap around the edges of the device. This would extend the display across the front and sides of the iPhone, perhaps enabling side-based gestures and buttons like on Samsung's Galaxy S7 edge.

Apple was similarly rumored to be developing three iPhone models internally this year, but it reportedly scrapped plans to release a 5.5-inch model with a single-lens camera around six months ago. Apple's tenth-anniversary iPhone is shaping up to be a more significant upgrade, compared to the relatively incremental refresh expected from this year's tentatively named iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

Article Link: Apple's 2017 Curved OLED iPhone to Be a New Premium Model

[doublepost=1471919946][/doublepost]I was actually quite impressed with the edge feature. Glad it's coming to the iPhone.

 

[Amplelink]

Honestly I kinda dig the curved display on the S6 edge. It's not a must have and I wouldn't even call it that useful BUT it does create the illusion of a bigger screen.

Yeah, it's a beautiful screen. And if Apple does the same thing, I'll be a bit disappointed. Rather than leading the pack, they're now copying and pasting.

 

[SSDGUY]

A curved edge is a deal breaker for me. Not only is it useless but I need a case to add grip (I often have really dry hands). I can't see how one would add a case to this design and not impede whatever added view the edge provides.

 

[Bawstun]

iPhone 8 Edge S Pro+

LOL! Had to like.

 

[Urban Joe]

At least it gives us something to look forward to...maybe it will be a pleasant surprise. But honestly at this point its about as useful as the new body designs on a late model car. Basically cosmetics with minimal extra-added performance enhancements from the new form factor.

The SE is serving me well and I don't see updating until the anniversary edition.

 

[randian]

OLED has notoriously bad color accuracy, and the off-sized pixels to fix the blue-fade problem mess up graphics. What happened to the chunk of change Apple dropped on micro-LED tech?

 

[SoSickSadNslOw]

I fail to understand the logic of edge display being immersive, LG G-Flex is Immersive and makes sense, on top looks cool as well, hate the edge display, the most useless and annoying screen ever.

 

[jimbo1mcm]

I wish there was a phone that was a comfortable size, like about 5.2 inches with a Quad HD screen, fast charging, good water resistance, expandable Micro SD, 2 dedicated DAC's for output, small capacitive buttons, OIS and small bezels. Oh wait...there is, and its the HTC 10 and I have one. Apple needs to ramp it up. They really need to modernize their phones. They are close to being a laughingstock with their designs.

 

[44267547]

Wait till apple sucker punch us next month by jacking up price of the plus model. (They're going to pull another IPad Pro 9.7 stunt)

As far as the 4.7 iPhone 7 price increase, I don't think this will happen with the 32 GB model being at an entry level. But with the 5.5 model with the dual camera, it's possible this model may be more expensive than its entry level price at $750.00 in the past. It's hard to say at this point.

But I was also disappointed when the iPad Pro 9.7 debuted, and they increased the price by $100.00 for 32 GB. I watched the Key Note and remember Phil Schiller saying 'And the 9.7 iPad Pro will only start at $600.00."

I don't agree with the price increase either.

 

[recoil80]

Every now and then we read about this kind of rumours about more iPhone models or feature restricted to only one of them because of supply chain problems.
Remember touchID? And even this year they talked about three iPhone models due to the lack of dual camera sensor.
Either they'll put OLED on both models or they'll wait another year for the switch if there are problem with the supply of display from their vendors.
Even if the plus has some better specs (more battery life, OIS, more ppi) it is basically the same phone, just larger. It is good to have a choice regarding the display size and they now sell three models if you include the 5SE, but they all have a retina display with the same technology, just different ppi. Putting OLED on only one model would make the other less appealing, my take is they'll continue to differentiate between the "normal" and the plus by some features like camera but they'll share the same design and display

 

[Soccertess]

I think that Cook is doing what he easily can do to take away a lot of Samsung sales advantages, which is to add their most popular features to the Apple lineup.

Under Cook, Apple has also added pen support, video PIP, waterproofing, and it sounds like quick charging and edge displays are next. All are features that have helped Samsung get sales that might otherwise have gone to Apple.

So it's a smart move. It's similar to the way that auto makers follow each other's shapes and colors and features. Not adopting popular features often leads to lost sales. And who knows, perhaps this is also Cook's not so subtle way of showing Samsung that copying features can cut both ways.

Maybe.. it's not a bad theory. Whatever the motivation, I see some negative results. Apple's sales are down beyond seasonal slumps, they have lost market share in China, have little to none in India, and there products seem stale.

Apple is also taking incredibly long to adopt Samsung's winning features, and Apple is losing customers because customers aren't willing to wait 2-3 years for features in other competitors products.

I also see them falling behind on previous key strategies. Google now is far superior than siri, and Apple is taking too long to catch up, and have become yesterdays news. I know I will be speaking with my wallet in Sept as it's the only real voice I have.

 

[Col4bin]

That spec graphic better be wrong. First and foremost, the aging home button and ridiculous top and bottom gigantic bezels need to be removed and significantly reduced. And secondly, what's with the notion of possibly leveraging the same exact edge-to-edge curved screen as an ugly-ass Galaxy S7 Edge--especially seeing that the Edge has been around for a couple of years already? Since when does Apple copy design and not lead design? (And from Samsung no less.) This would be deplorably desperate and douchey, Tim and Jony. Don't do it.

 

[L_dorado]

oh yeah that makes sense, well done apple! or ehmm should i say samsung?!

** REVOLUTIONARY!!!
** We worked so hard..
** BEAUTIFUL
** AMAIZING
** THE BEST IPHONE YET
** THE BEST DESIGN YET

this is what they gonna feed us, like each freaking year. if i could bet on those quotes, i would be a millionaire!

 

[mikecorp]

I'm buying iphone SE.

 

[2457248]

people, please, stop taking rumors literally!!
a curved oled screen does NOT mean apple is copying the samsung edge. be open minded and creative about what it could be!
the staff at MR also does not help with this, fueling the concept of a 5,8" screen that wraps around the sides, which is only a conjecture and a bad interpretation of the leak, imo.