Apple may be rethinking plans for the ratio of OLED to LCD iPhones for 2018, a new report claims.
Apple is reportedly developing four next-gen iPhone project simultaneously: a 5.7- to 5.8-inch LCD device, a 6.0- to 6.1-inch LCD device, a 6.0- to 6.1-inch OLED device, and a 6.4- to 6.5-inch OLED device. However, only three of these are likely to ship to users. The question, therefore, is which three.
Currently, it is expected that these will be stripped back to eventually include only the two LCD iPhone models and the larger of the two OLED ones, much like Apple did last year with the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, and the OLED iPhone X.
This is apparently a recent change in strategy, since Apple originally planned to launch the two OLED devices and a single LCD model. While it’s not spelled out in the report, this could back up previous claims that the OLED iPhone X — which costs more for Apple to produce than the LCD handsets — is not selling quite as well as Apple hoped.
All of Apple’s next-gen handsets will reportedly include wireless charging and 3D sensing functionality. It’s not clear whether this will refer to Face ID or the rear camera 3D depth sensing needed for ARKit and other photographic features.
The report also suggests that Apple is getting ready to launch a new iPhone SE-level more affordable iPhone this year. That handset will feature wireless charging, but no 3D sensing. It will begin mass production in the second quarter with the official launch in May or June.
What are you hoping for from Apple’s 2018 crop of iPhones? Let us know in the comments below.
