Will loyalty guarantee good sale of iPhone 8? Release date, features and price

The hype around Apple's upcoming flagship iPhone 8 has started gaining momentum though the flagship device is still a few months away from seeing the light of day. Nothing much is known about the handset, but reports claimed that iPhone's loyalty rate is high, hinting that the next-generation device could really move the sales needle.

The Cupertino giant is expected to follow its tradition of releasing the iPhone in September. There were reports saying the iPhone 8 launch could get pushed back to October or November over introduction of curved OLED panels and 3D sensing system. But it has now emerged that it may arrive in September with the mass production of the A11 chipset likely to happen in July.

Also read: How will iPhone 8 and 8 Plus stack up against iPhone 7, 7 Plus in terms of features?

Interestingly, investment banking firm Morgan Stanley has claimed in its report that Apple iPhone commands a whopping 92 percent loyalty rate as against 86 percent last year, which hints at a good number of iPhone owners likely to buy the new handset from the same manufacturer in next 12 months, reported MacRumor.

Samsung enjoys a loyalty rate of 77 percent, LG 59 percent, Motorola 56 percent, and Nokia 42 percent, the report further added.

Big companies like Apple and Samsung are known for their loyal consumer base. However, 92 percent is a bit of an outlier.

The iPhone 8 may come in three variants.

The iPhone 8 is expected to sport a 4.7-inch display, while the iPhone 8 Plus is likely to feature a 5.5-inch screen, and the premium model a 5.8-inch display. All the models may have an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screen. It is also expected to come with features like wireless charger, 3D depth-sensing front camera, new fingerprint ID solution and a virtual Home Button.

Reports have claimed that the device will come with a price tag of $1,000 but it is not confirmed yet.