14 DAY TRIAL // Apple will unveil three different iPhone models later this year, and one of them is expected to be a more affordable version coming with an LCD screen.
Top-rated Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has released a new forecast about this particular configuration, claiming that there’s a good chance it’s going to be priced between $600 and $700. Production hasn’t started, Kuo said, but it’s projected to kick off soon in order to get the device ready for the September launch.
One particular challenge is the design of the LCD iPhone. Apple wants this model to share the look of the iPhone X with an edge-to-edge screen despite using LCD instead of OLED, and this is believed to be more difficult for suppliers. But the analyst expects production to be on track for a September unveiling.
In terms of features, the more affordable iPhone would give up on 3D Touch and dual cameras, and would launch with a single rear camera just like the iPhone 8.
2019 LCD iPhone
Despite rumors that the 2019 iPhone lineup could feature OLED exclusively, the LCD version would stick around for at least one more year, so the cheaper model coming this year would also receive an upgrade.
The analyst says that Apple is also planning a series of other unveilings this year, including a cheaper MacBook Air, an iPad Pro with Face ID, and an Apple Watch with a larger display. They are unlikely, however, to see daylight alongside the new iPhones, as Apple wants to use the September launch event for its smartphone exclusively.
The other two iPhone models on the table for a fall 2018 unveiling are a direct successor to the iPhone X with a 5.8-inch OLED panel and a Plus-sized version measuring 6.5 inches. All three are due in September, while sales should begin later the same month or in early October.