Analyst says three iPhone models are expected in 2018

Dec 6, 2017 08:00 GMT  ·  By

Apple could launch not one, not two, but three different iPhone models next year based on the existing design of the iPhone X. This is what Nomura analysts projected earlier this week in a note to investors, adding that a larger model with a 6.5-inch is very likely.

This isn’t the first time we hear about Apple’s plans to launch new iPhone models using the approach the company embraced for the iPhone X, as top-rated analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI also said that a 6.5-inch iPhone is on its way.

Nomura claims that one of the 2018 iPhone models would feature a 5.8-inch OLED screen just like the existing iPhone X, while a Plus-sized version could include a 6.5-inch OLED display to compete against the Samsung Galaxy Note. A third iPhone with an LCD screen, but still boasting key features of the rest of the lineup, could also be launch, but as a more affordable version with a non-premium price.

New affordable iPhone without dual camera

The analysts expect this more affordable iPhone to be priced somewhere in between $650 and $900, depending on storage versions. In order to reduce costs, this model could come with a single-lens camera and without 3D Touch.

“We think the focus for 2H18F new iPhones is to optimise those technologies in terms of performance and costs and adopt a broader iPhone portfolio, rather than bring in more significant technology changes into new iPhones,” the analysts were quoted as saying.

“We think the specs of 6.5” OLED and 5.8” OLED new iPhones are mostly the same as those on iPhone X (5.8” OLED), except for the screen size and the support of dual physical SIM cards of the 6.5” iPhone.”

The top-of-the-range configurations of 2018 iPhone models could come with 512GB storage space, in addition to the two versions available now with 64GB and 256GB.

Obviously, this forecast should be received with a healthy amount of skepticism as we’re still far away from the moment the new iPhone models would launch, but all rumors seem to make sense at this point given the investment in the iPhone X design.