“Next year, Apple is expected to launch three new iPhones,” Ashraf Eassa writes for The Motley Fool. “The lowest-cost of the bunch is expected to be a device with a 6.1-inch liquid crystal display (LCD), which means the display won’t be as high quality as the organic-light emitting diode (OLED) displays on the successor to this year’s iPhone X and its rumored larger counterpart. ”
“The latest rumor, which comes from Nomura Securities,” Eassa writes, “is that the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone won’t have a dual-lens rear-facing camera, as today’s iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X do. Instead, it’ll apparently have a single-lens camera, as today’s iPhone 8 does.”
“Apple may be looking to help rein the cost structure of the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone by going with a single lens camera — especially if that camera is substantially improved compared with the one found in this year’s iPhone 8 — rather than a dual-lens camera,” Eassa writes. “It’s also important to keep in mind that the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone will be at the bottom of a product stack with three devices in it. Apple, of course, would rather potential customers buy a 6.1-inch LCD iPhone than no iPhone at all, but at the same time, it’ll want to reserve features and capabilities for its more expensive devices to give customers incentive to pay a bit more to get better devices. ”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: This’ll be the “entry-level” model of the new iPhones (of course, older models like the then year-old iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, likely along with even older iPhones and the SE or SE successor will be the true entry-level iPhones), so it makes sense to differentiate and to keep costs down.
So if it’s LCD will it have the same proportional bezels as the iPhone 8? If so, a 6.1 inch (diagonal) 2018 LCD iPhone will be a MONSTER in size — a true phablet. I certainly hope this rumor is not true.
The rumor is that this 6.1 LCD iPhone will have the same bezels as the iPhone X.
IOW this would mean it would have an edge to edge screen and FaceID.
It very likely will be a level down from the X and X plus in the performance of some parts (for cost saving) and will be sized midway between the X and X plus
If Apple applies FaceID technology, then the height is substantially reduced. Reducing the bezels increases the risk of damage from a fall, so that will be an important design decision.
As far as internal components go, the single camera seems reasonable for a mid-range iPhone option. I would think that Apple would use the A11 Fusion SoC in this phone, as well, reserving the next generation A12 for the high-end 2018 iPhone X models.
It is a little uncertain how this rumor fits in with Apple’s normal approach of retaining last year’s models as the bargain options for the current year. Would this LCD-based model replace the iPhone 8/8 plus in 2018? Or would it represent an iPhone SE-type of approach where Apple actually redesigns the iPhone 8/8 plus to blend in the old with some of the new, such as FaceID?
It will be interesting to see how this pans out over time. But my primary concern is that the current iPhone models, particularly the iPhone X, prove to be robust performers with no significant quality control issues. Apple receives incredible scrutiny, and any flaw that is discovered, even if limited to a small percentage of units sold, will be blown way out of proportion. When you are on top, you become the favorite target.
Sorry, A11 Bionic, not Fusion. Got my names crossed!
I am thinking that the A11 Bionic will be leveraged for next year’s mid-range iPhone while the A12 is applied to the new models (and Macs, too!).
Apple is all about iconic looks. Remember how you could tell an iPod used from a distance by the iconic white earbuds and cords? Took center stage in their ad campaign.
Then there was/is the iconic home button. One quick glance and you would know it was an Apple IOS device.
Now it is the notch. Instant recognization. I feel the hone button will be replaced by the notch across the board real soon. Iconic again.
I only wish my iPad had Face ID, and even without, the new gestures of my iPhone X.
Annoying. Not iconic.
6.1″ in the iPhone 8 chassis? Not going to happen. 6,1″ in the iPhone 8 Plus chassis? Not going to happen.
Of the former a 6.1″ LCD crammed into the same space that the 5.8″ iPhone X uses is not possible. Not going to happen.
Of the latter this device would be a direct competitor to the rumored larger iPhone X “Plus” and would ostensibly cost much less. Not going to happen.
I have no inside information, but looking back at Apple’s new model strategy, I see this year’s 5.8″ iPhone X being offered at $899 next year, with an upgraded 5.8″ iPhone X (xxx) offered at $999, and a 6.5″ iPhone X (xxx) Plus offered at $1099. All starting with 64GB memory.
Production of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 7 will cease, while the iPhone 7S and iPhone 8 will both drop $100 from today’s pricing.
The SE will continue as an Apple branded alternative to cheap Android models, but with better processor power, ease of use and cache (it’s an iPhone).
cachet not cache
2 different words with different meanings
You were policing somebody’s writing earlier today and look, you’re crossing the yellow line yourself. Tsk/Tsk.
I think not! Do your research.
Definition of cache noun \ ˈkash \
1 a : a hiding place especially for concealing and preserving provisions or implements
b : a secure place of storage discovered a cache of weapons
Definition of cachet:noun ca·chet \ ka-ˈshā \
1 a : a seal used especially as a mark of official approval
b : an indication of approval carrying great prestige The president placed his cachet on the project.
2 a : a characteristic feature or quality conferring prestige