Apple has been keeping its fans on toes since 2007, when Steve Jobs revolutionized the smartphone market with the first iPhone. The trend has been to launch the next version of the iPhone in the first two weeks of September each year.
This year, Apple has announced its “Gather Round” event on September 12m where the company is expected to launch new iPhone models and other gadgets. According to reports, there could be three new iPhones hitting the market, and they will integrate the ‘notch’ concept unveiled in the last year’s iPhone X.
Apple to Introduce 3 New iPhone Models
Apple is expected to come out with a second generation version of its iPhone X with an OLED display of 5.8 inches.
Some analysts believe that there will also be a bigger version of the iPhone X itself, called the iPhone X Plus, which will sport a 6.5-inch OLED display. The cost of the two phones is expected to be in the same range of iPhone X.
Apple’s leaked images of the 5.8 inch and 6.5-inch models in August, and the invitation for the September 12 event, more than anything confirm the launch of the next iPhones.
iPhone X’s popular yet somewhat notorious notch might be making its way out though. The black notch at the top of the screen wasn’t liked by many, as they believed it was a distraction while watching content on the screen.
Yet, Apple didn’t seem to have the technology back then to mass produce edge to edge displays, without keeping the notch.
It’s not the same this time around.
All the new models in 201888 is expected to sport an edge to edge screen. It’s interesting to see if Android makers will follow suit since many like the One Plus 6 followed suit when it came to sporting a notch. Now that Apple itself seems to be walking away, would the notch remain as popular?
We are also expecting an affordable version of the iPhone, which will feature an LCD screen of 6.1 inches. The phone can also make use of a Full Active LCD, a better technology than the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus displays. Both the phones are rumored to resemble the iPhone X.
What Other Features Can You Expect?
All the three iPhones will have Face ID and TrueDepth camera system for better pictures. They will ship with edge-to-edge screens, with almost invisible bezels found in iPhone X. We are also predicting that Apple will discontinue the Touch ID fingerprint sensor and home button in the 2018 models.
Apple can call the OLED models as iPhone XS following the naming scheme it applied for the generation S phones. The naming suggests that Apple has been working on new features instead of significant changes in design.
To keep the price affordable, Apple is rumored to cut some features in the 6.1 inch LC model. The phone will have a single lens camera and come with an aluminum frame ditching the stainless steel frame. It will also get rid of the 3D Touch, as per reports. After all the cutbacks, the iPhone is expected to cost around $600 to $700 which makes it belong to the pricing range of iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.
The 5.8 inch and 6.1-inch models, on the other hand, will have similar features as the iPhone X. The price of the 5.8 inch OLED model can be around $800 to $900, while the 6.1-inch model can sell between $900 and $1,000.
The 5.8 inch and 6.1 models with OLED displays will come with 4 GB RAM and dual lens camera on the rear along with a high capacity battery. The 6.1 and 6.5 inch iPhones can ship with dual SIM capabilities in selected countries.
Apple fanatics can have a great range of choices for the 2018 iPhone models as they come in different colors. The OLED display models can feature gold and space grey while the 6.1 inch iPhone can come in red, blue, orange, grey and white. In the leaked images, the 5.8 inch and 6.5-inch models were featured in gold color so that we can confirm the color choice assuredly.
Apple is expected to discontinue their current iPhone X model after launching the 5.8 inch and 6.5-inch models in September.
Improved Specifications to Take a Look at
The three models will have some interesting hardware specifications and matching features. Apart from shipping with a TrueDepth camera and Face ID, the phones will come with the upgraded A12 processor.
The OLED models will sport improved LTE chips coming from Intel which will offer faster internet speeds. They are also expected to use USB C to Lightning cable for super quick charging.
The 6.5 inch iPhone XS is rumoured to come with a resolution of 2688 x 1242 pixels while the 5.8 inch iPhone is probably going to feature a resolution of 2436 x 1125 pixels. All the models are also expected to have Corning's Gorilla Glass 6 which will protect the phone from falls and shocks keeping the display intact.
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the affordable LCD model of the iPhone can come with a resolution of 1792 x 828 pixels. He was the one to predict the introduction of the model and believes that it will have 3 GB RAM and have 2x2 MIMO which makes it slower compared to 4x4 MIMO expected in the OLED models.
It will also feature a Full Active LCD which makes it offer some of the pros of the OLED display at a reduced cost. The LCD screens in the 6.1-inch models can utilize LED backlighting chips which allow Apple to maintain a reduced screen bezel size. It makes the model come close to the bezel size similar in the OLED versions.
Just a Few More Days till the Launch
The Apple event is only a few days away, and we already have the news that Apple will launch the phones at around 10 am Pacific Time. The event will be held at Steve Jobs Theatre on the campus of Apple Park.
And it’s not just about iPhones – 9to5Mac.com has reportedly gained access to photos of a new Apple Watch too, which offers a larger screen for users.
