iPhone 2018 Leak Shows How Apple's Discount Model Will Stun
Budget buyers won't be budged out of buying the best.
Apple’s cheaper iPhone is about to look a whole lot cooler. On Sunday, prolific smartphone leaker Benjamin Geskin shared new photos of the company’s upcoming 6.1-inch smartphone, which Geskin has referred to as the “iPhone X Lite.” The new device maintains the same stylings as the $999 iPhone X, but with an expected price point of around $700.
The leak shows how Apple is planning to move away from the current differentiation system, where the $699 iPhone 8 and $799 iPhone 8 Plus offers a cheaper alternative to the X but with a design reminiscent of the 2014 iPhone 6. For this year’s launch, rumors suggest that all three phones will use an X-style design with a face scanner and no home button. The 6.1-inch iPhone will serve as the cheapest model alongside an upgraded $899 5.8-inch iPhone X and a $999 6.5-inch iPhone X Plus. Unlike the more expensive versions, this phone will use an LCD screen instead of OLED, and Geskin’s images suggest it will also only offer one camera lens.
See more: iPhone 9: Analyst Reveals Striking New Design and Colors for 2018 Model
Apple may also introduce a number of other internal changes to entice people to spend more. Ming-Chi Kuo, a former KGI Securities analyst, claimed earlier this month that the device may also drop the force-sensitive 3D Touch screen and the stainless steel frame around the outside. The device may also come in colors including “grey, white, blue, red and orange.”
The company may also roll out more premium features on the high-end to widen the gap. Yuanta Securities analyst Jeff Pu claimed in May that the company could roll out a triple lens camera to offer improved zoom capabilities, as well as better use of “ARKit.” Another feature suggested for the 6.5-inch model is support for two SIM cards, enabling business travelers and others to switch between phone lines seamlessly.
Apple is expected to launch its upgrades to the iPhone line around the same time the company is set to release iOS 12 with added capabilities like Siri Shortcuts and new maps support.
After the successor to Touch ID launched amid some skepticism last year, it seems Apple is confident enough in its technology to roll out three more devices this year.
