14 DAY TRIAL // In addition to a successor to the iPhone X and a Plus-sized model, this year’s iPhone generation is also expected to include a third device featuring a 6.1-inch LCD panel.
As compared to the other two siblings, this LCD iPhone is specifically developed to be more affordable, therefore a series of changes and feature removals are expected.
The LCD panel itself is seen as a cost-saving measure, as OLED screens are generally more expensive, but Apple wants this particular configuration to feature the same edge-to-edge approach as the more premium iPhones.
Reducing bezels down to the point where they are nearly impossible to notice is much more difficult on an LCD panel, and leaks that have made the rounds lately showed that there’s indeed a good chance the 6.1-inch iPhone would feature thicker bezels.
Three suppliers for new iPhone displays
But according to a report from Macotakara, Apple has joined forces with Japan Display specifically for this purpose. This means the iPhone could use the company’s Full Active Display, which reduces bezel size to no less than 0.5 mm. This is an achievement powered by Japan Pixel Eyes touch sensor, which helps offer increased responsiveness even with super-small bezels.
The current iPhone X, which uses a display manufactured by Samsung, has a 1mm bezel, so the LCD panel may allow for a substantial improvement in this regard.
While Japan Display may manufacture the panels for the 6.1-inch iPhone, the 5.8-inch iPhone X is expected to use displays built by Samsung, just like the current generation. The 6.5-inch OLED screen for the iPhone X Plus will most likely come from LG Display, a company that Apple itself has invested in as it struggles to reduce reliance on Samsung.
The new iPhone generation is projected to be unveiled in September, but the cheaper model could be held back for approximately one month due to what have previously been described as production struggles with the displays.