The iPhone 8 sounds like it's the ultimate homage to the original
You've already heard all about the iPhone 8's front -- it's rumored to have an OLED display with curved edges that dominate the entire front and no home button -- but we may have just learned a little something about its back.
Korea's ETnews, which has accurately reported on smartphone rumors in the past, claims the iPhone 8 will sport a new "three-dimensional glass" back with curves on the top, bottom, and left and right edges that are more "gentle and rounded" than the iPhone 7's current design.
The rounder and curvier "water drop" design isn't a wedge like on the Pixel and Pixel XL, which has a profile that tapers; the back's still said to be flat (for the rumored wireless charging), and it's just the corners and edges that might get slightly more sculpted.
The Korean news site says the rounder corners are supposed to resemble those from the original iPhone.
It's hard to see the original iPhone's subtle, but more rounded corners in pictures.
A side profile render does a much better job. See how the top and bottom of the phone is just ever so slightly curved?
Sure, it's a detail only Jony Ive and his team of designers, and diehard Apple nerds will appreciate, but it's this very exact obsession with detail that makes Apple products so delightful to unbox and own. Apple sweats every little detail, even if you might not notice it.
But while the iPhone 8 may pay tribute to the original iPhone, it'll also reportedly share similarities with the iPhone 4. Rumors suggest the glass display and back will sandwich a stainless steel frame just like on the iPhone 4 and 4S.
The iPhone 8 is rumored to have a screen with a 5.5 to 5.8-inch display. The Touch ID fingerprint sensor will either be moved underneath the glass screen or removed altogether in favor of an advanced facial recognition camera system.
Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 8 (or "iPhone Edition" as previously floated), along with an updated iPhone 7S and 7S Plus this fall.
As with all rumors, nothing can be confirmed, so take every tidbit you hear with a big grain of salt.
Raymond Wong is Mashable's Senior Tech Correspondent. He reviews gadgets and tech toys and analyzes the tech industry. Raymond's also a bit of a camera geek, gamer, and fine chocolate lover. Before arriving at Mashable, he was the Deputy Editor of NBC Universal's tech publication DVICE. His writing has appeared on G4TV, BGR, Yahoo and Ubergizmo, to name a few. You can follow Raymond on Twitter @raywongy or Instagram @sourlemons.
