Mike Wuerthele
A new report from the Chinese supply chain suggests that Apple is continuing to evaluate multiple sizes for the fall 2018 releases, with the latest claim saying that the the company is evaluating a 5.7-inch and 6-inch LCD device, plus both a 6-inch and 6.4-inch OLED iPhone.
The data gleaned on Friday from the supply chain by DigiTimes' research arm claims that Apple is leaning towards the two LCD devices, and a large-format 6.4-inch OLED one. It isn't clear where DigiTimes sourced their data, and it lies in contrast to multiple reports from KGI Securities Ming-Chi Kuo.
Also noted in the latest report is support for wireless charging and "3D sensing functionalities" across the entire line. It isn't clear what the venue is talking about with "3D sensing," be it the TrueDepth camera, 3D Touch, or some other technology.
DigiTimes generally has accurate information from individual component manufacturers regarding delivery timetables. However, it has a poor track record on Apple's specific plans — and the veracity of the data from the newly formed DigiTimes Research division is unknown.
The venue has given itself an out, should the information prove to be inaccurate. It notes that "Apple has not yet made the final decision so there is still a chance that the vendor may come up with another combination."
Other rumors suggest that Apple is looking to produce a 5.8- and 6.5-inch OLED iPhone for the fall of 2018, with a low-cost 6.1-inch LCD model eschewing the dual-lens camera in the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X.
Charles Martin
Christine McKee
Oliver Haslam
12 Comments
Hmmmm...well from what I'm seeing, the larger screens are selling better than Apple ever expected and the OLED screens are more difficult to produce in large quantities, not to mention, expensive.
The iPhone 8 looks a little dated to me, not being edge to edge. So it makes sense to me. Two sizes of X's with OLED and two sizes of iPhone 9's with everything but the OLED screen.
Apple always does a good job of tightening up their product line...eventually. (Look at the iPad offerings. Very strong.) And they do a good job in the products getting the latest feature sets. Again, eventually.
Seems simple enough.
Best.
P.S. Doubt they will call it the Xs ('excess')
Including the SE2 that’s 5 new phones this year, hmmmmm.
If you think deep, does make sense. Rumored for sometime for 2018 are OLED 5.8" updated and new 6.5". Now, LCD iPhone 8S and 8S Plus replacement is LCD 5.7" and 6.0" screen faceid but fits within(close to) current iPhone 8's 4.7" and 5.5" screen size frame. Removing home-button gives extra screen real estate. This could be end of Home-button on flagship iphones. Lonely star with home button will be iPhone SE2 and current iPhone 7, 8/Plus still supported for couple of years.
I.m.o. Apple iOS 2018 lineup will be:
I expect that such new iPhone models are all likely to deploy hardware-patched (updated versions of existing) A CPUs or variations of a brand new A12 CPU to cater for the 3 most serious security issues that impacted Apple since last summer, hard to be resolved by software-only patches:
I also expect that the recently released Home Pod is already deploying a hardware-patched A CPU catering for the same safety issues (it could be the reason for its delay).
Apple had enough time since summer 2017 to work on such hardware patches, and with a radical CPUs upgrade of this kind it will finally be equipped to mitigate further litigation in 2018 while sending a refreshed security/privacy marketing message.