While Apple fanatics have been clamoring for the next iPhone, the Cupertino-based tech company's lips are sealed as far as two key details about the next-gen iPhone. First off, there's no official word regarding what the company will call it, as industry watchers continue hazarding all sorts of guesses pointing towards monikers such as iPhone 8, iPhone X, iPhone Edition or just iPhone. As if that weren't enough, the launch date of the coveted phone is still under wraps.

The upcoming handset marks the tenth anniversary of the aboriginal iPhone. Apple's release pattern since the iPhone 3GS comprises launching an iPhone 'S' model between a couple of Apple flagship, symbolized by a numerical change in the name. It's worth noting that Apple's choice of words is not random.

An 'S' in the name (for instance, the iPhone 6S), ideally alludes to software-based changes, while a numerical change (like the iPhone 7), hints at a radical overhaul, particularly in the features. It can be recalled that the iPhone 7 ousted the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack while providing users with headphones with a lighting connector as a substitute.

As compared to its precursor i.e. iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S, the current-generation iPhone had just one hardware change in the form of a feature called 3D touch, which let users interact with the device's interface simply by pressing the display, but the feature was strongly criticized by HuffingtonPost's Arpit Verma for its inability to providing users with any sort of key usage enhancement.

Although nothing is set in stone yet, the iPhone 8 has already been subject to a bunch of rumors and leaks. Lining with this, iDropNews shared a slew of renders on Tuesday, May 2, this time laying emphasis on the full potential of the iPhone 8's function area (a portion of the purported iPhone's 5.8-inch display which is exclusively dedicated for a virtual Home button).

This was originally brought into the open by KGI (via 9to5Mac) back in February this year. The report indicated that the iPhone 8's function area could actually come to fruition due to the device's bezel-less design. Thanks to this function, there would be 5.15 inches of "usable" screen space left.

While this newfangled function area will dismiss the physical Home button on the next iPhone, it could come in handy for several other functions as well. Apple might enhance the function area with app-contextual controls, like what the company did on the 2016 MacBook Pro's OLED Touch Bar. Alternatively, it could house media controls, accept/decline buttons for calls just to name a few. In other words, the possibilities for a function area could be vast.

The latest renders give us a brief glimpse at what the aforesaid options would look like. Moreover, they offer a peek at how Touch ID could be placed in the function area. While Apple has neither confirmed nor denied these rumors, more concrete details are likely to surface online ahead of the next iPhone's alleged launch date, which many believe would coincide with the 10th anniversary of the iPhone.