OLED screen, wireless charging, 3GB RAM, 3D Camera, new colours and all other rumoured iPhone 8 features are bound to draw loud cheers during the September keynote event. But the update that will bring the most happiness to the current iPhone users is the promise of improved battery life, especially in the smaller models.
Last month, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had suggested that the battery life of the 4.7 inch iPhone 8 will be as good as that of the current plus model. A similar claim was also made Katy Huberty, a Morgan Stanley analyst. She said, “In addition to more modest updates to current iPhone SKUs, we expect Apple to launch a higher priced device with AMOLED display that allows for a curved form factor and longer battery life, wireless charging technology, 3D sensors, and more advanced AI software capabilities. While we see accelerated upgrades for Apple’s highest end users in all regions, our work suggests China users are especially sensitive to new technology and form factor changes.”
Many people, me included, prefer the smaller iPhones because they’re easy to use. And although the battery life of iPhone 7 is better than that of iPhone 6S or 6, it’s still no match to the backup from the bigger batteries in the Plus models. Yes, there are other ‘Plus exclusives’ like dual camera, but if there’s one thing that iPhone 7 users would like to borrow from the bigger model, it would undoubtedly be the battery life.
While cynics might argue that boosting the battery life on the smaller iPhone 8 might jeopardise the demand for the bigger sibling, I feel it would be a masterstroke from Tim Cook and co. The lovers of giganto-phones will still go big, but the battery upgrade in the 4.7 model will be a huge temptation for iPhone 6, 6S and even 7 users.
If you’re like me, you must have already started convincing yourself to skip the iPhone 8 since your iPhone 7 is ‘new enough’. I will admit that I have gotten excited by all the rumoured features, but not enough to break my ‘alternate year upgrade’ cycle. But then came this better battery news, and I am wondering already. Damn you, Apple!