Disagree. Because there shouldn't be an expectation the iPhone design has to change year over year. Furthermore it's not logical for Apple to change the iPhone design on an annual basis, which they know will generate revenue using similar components . Which is maybe why they used the iPhone 7 model another year, because more drastic changes coincide With an overhauled design. Just because Apple didn't take the same approach as they did with the iPhone 4 from the 3GS, from the 4s to the 5, why should they follow the same pattern every year? When you factor Enough technological advances, the iPhone usually changes in form along with those advances, similarly what's intended for this year.
Look at the broader spectrum, Apple doesn't physically make overhauled changes to their hardware lineup every 18 months or so. Most of their hardware resembles earlier models, its just a lot thinner. For example, The iPads are primarily the same as they've always been from There origin, they're primarily just thinner and other minor hardware tweaks.
When I bought into the Apple mindset on phones in 2012 they had an established pattern I assumed they would continue to follow.
With some minor deviations they pretty much did that up untl the 7/7+.
So that's where my expectation came from and why I have it.
I agree that it's not logical that Apple change the physical design on an annual basis. But we were seeing a design change on a semi-annual basis and because of that my expectation was that the design of the 7 would change. It didn't, and now the argument is that the 7s/7s+ or whatever it will be called shouldn't change much in look.
Collectively then, if it does not, that will be six versions of the iPhone 6/6+. Other than minor camera bump changes and the removal of antenna lines and some new colors it looks the same.
If Apple were a car manufacturer they'd be doing exactly as expected.
But of course, they can do as they wish. No one is forcing me to buy their devices.
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My own theory is that the iPhone 7 was a fallback, a plan B if you will, because the iPhone 8 was not ready yet for whatever reason.
That's a good theory. I like that!