Don't hold your breath for a new iPhone 8 this year

Brace yourselves now, people: we could be in for quite an iPhone-based shock later this year -- and it might not be the sticker price.

By now, you've probably heard that Apple's upcoming deluxe iPhone 8 might be delayed beyond the product line's now-typical September launch. The holdup could stem from issues with the development of the rumored screen-embedded fingerprint sensor, or from production issues with some of the new components. Hell, Apple might not even have settled on a final design for the flagship, which would definitely push back its production schedule.

All of these reports, however, have largely assured Apple fans that the iPhone 8 will still be available this year, shortly after the release of two less substantial updates to the current 7 model's September release.

We might be in for even more disappointment come September, however, according to a recent Deutsche Bank research note provided to Business Insider. The firm's analysts report the iPhone 8 won't be ready for release before the end of the calendar year, and we'll all be stuck waiting for our OLED-screened flagship until 2018.

The Deutsche Bank note was based on an earlier report from ValueWalk, which cited sources close to Apple's main production partner, Foxconn, who claimed Apple has only placed orders packaging materials for two iPhone models. Those phones are supposedly the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus.

We've heard the two-phone parts of this rumor before, and ValueWalk isn't exactly known for its Apple scoops, so this shouldn't be immediately accepted as an inevitable truth. But with so many reports of delays filling the rumor mill, we shouldn't dismiss it either.

Who knows, though -- maybe a delay could even be a good thing, allowing everything to come together for the best possible iPhone experience. Just look at Apple's AirPods: the wireless earbuds were infamously delayed after being announced, but have gone on to massive success in both sales and consumer satisfaction rating.

AirPods are just a compliment to the the iPhone, which is the real centerpiece of Apple's product line. The company has even more at stake to launch a premium device this year with the iPhone's tenth anniversary. If the device is delayed into 2018, it'll likely mean one thing: Apple decided to make the best iPhone possible. We can only hope they succeed.