iPhone 8 anniversary edition to have curved OLED screen and cost $1000

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the iPhone, and Apple is reportedly planning to launch a special anniversary edition of the popular smartphone.

Sources in the Wall Street Journal say it will boast a curved OLED screen - which would make it the first iPhone with a curved display, and the first to use OLED technology.

The 'standard' models (believed to be the iPhone 8S and 8S Plus) would stick with flat LCDs, according to sources.

This screen would go some way to justifying the anniversary edition's price tag, rumoured to be around the $1000 (£810) mark. The most expensive iPhone 7 Plus model currently costs $970 (or £920 in the UK).

The curved screen will be made by Samsung, as manufacturers LG and JDI aren't geared up for mass production of iPhone-sized OLED panels.

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The Wall Street Journal report also claims that Apple will drop the physical home button from its new models, and that it may lose the Lightning connection in favour of USB-C. However, some analysts predict that the iPhone will keep the Lightning connector, but the USB end will become USB-C, which seems more likely.

The handset is said to have a 'function area' at the bottom of the screen to replace the home button.

In keeping with Apple's usual launch schedule, the iPhone 8 should be unveiled in September. But expect plenty more rumours and leaks before then.

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Joe Svetlik

Joe has been writing about tech for 17 years, first on staff at T3 magazine, then in a freelance capacity for Stuff, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Men's Health, GQ, The Mirror, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar and many more (including What Hi-Fi?). His specialities include all things mobile, headphones and speakers that he can't justifying spending money on.