iPhone 8 Could Be Most Expensive Version Yet, Leaked Mold Photos Provide Context

No one can ever accuse Apple of selling cheap phones, but as expensive as its iPhones have been in the past, it seems the gadget’s newest incarnation will be the priciest yet. Some reports are even indicating that the iPhone 8 could break the $1,000 ceiling, which is absolutely insane. There are also recently leaked photos that are supposedly of the new iPhone’s mold set beside those of the iPhone 7S.

Normally, rumors of gadget prices can be easily dismissed when coming from obscure sources, but some of the sources for the reports include Goldman Sachs, Fast Company, and Nikkei. At this point, it’s safe to assume that Apple might actually be asking iPhone fans to sell their kidneys. As to why the iPhone 8 could cost so much, Forbes reports that it might have something to do with the costs to actually make it.

The iPhone has been a symbol of technological innovation for years, but it has been slipping since the iPhone 5. In order to get its groove back, reports indicate that Apple agreed to some rather alarming rates to integrate 3D Touch into its newest device.

TPK Holdings has been Apple’s supplier of parts for its display and it would appear that it is charging more than twice its normal rate to meet the tech company’s needs. This adds quite a bit more expense on the actual manufacturing process, which could include an extra $35 for the OLED screens, $20 for new camera technology, and up to $29 for the upgraded memory.

In a recent report by 9to5Mac, photos of molds that were supposedly leaked appear to suggest that the iPhone 8 will come with a few more surprises up its sleeve. In the photos, the new iPhone seems smaller than iPhone 7S Plus but bigger than the 7S. The mold also suggests that the iPhone 8’s camera could be lined up vertically instead of horizontally.