With Apple apparently gearing up to launch three new iPhones next year, two-thirds of them will include dual-lens camera designs, though users who prefer the 4.7-inch form factor will reportedly be out of luck.
A concept render of an edge-to-edge iPhone display.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities issued a note to investors on Tuesday, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider, in which he forecast once again that Apple will launch three new iPhone models in 2017: A redesigned OLED version, and two featuring legacy TFT-LCD displays in the 4.7- and 5.5-inch sizes.
Like the current iPhone 7 Plus, the 5.5-inch model coming next year is expected to boast a dual-camera design, as is the OLED version. But according to Kuo, the 4.7-inch size will not gain dual lenses.
Kuo expects that between 65 and 75 percent of new iPhones shipped by Apple next fall will boast dual-camera displays. He predicts that the boost in share will be a boon for Apple supplier Largan, which provides lenses for Apple's dual-camera design.
Even before the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were released, Kuo indicated in September that the two-camera system would remain exclusive to the Plus-sized lineup in 2017. But with the iPhone 7 Plus seeing strong sales so far, he expects more users will gravitate toward larger form factors next year, resulting in a higher share.
Next year, Apple is widely expected to introduce an all-new design featuring a glass back and OLED display for its flagship iPhone, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the revolutionary handset. However, it's expected that the so-called "iPhone 8" will be sold alongside models with traditional LCD displays, potentially earning them the "iPhone 7s" series moniker.