Apple is reportedly planning to launch an even bigger iPhone this year to cater to the needs of customers who want multitasking features. Along with the biggest ever iPhone, two more iPhones would also debut – one would be as big as the current iPhone X, and the other would be a less expensive model, according to Bloomberg.
Sources told Bloomberg that Apple is already running production tests with the suppliers, and the phones could debut somewhere towards the end of this year. However, nothing is confirmed as of now, told another source, and plans could still change.
Apple iPhone X hype overshadowed the popularity of other smartphones even before its release. However, the hype was short-lived as the big phone from the California based company could not sell well, clocking only around 77.3 million iPhones in the final-quarter of 2017, below the analyst’s expectation of 80.2 million units. At $1,000, the iPhone X it seems failed to meet the expectations of the consumers who wanted a device a notch above the iPhone 8.
Now, with Apple possibly launching the biggest ever iPhone yet, the screen size war could become more intense at a time when companies are looking to offer new functionalities in the almost saturated market. According to the research firm IDC, global smartphone sales dropped 0.1% last year with shipments from Apple and Samsung expanding only by 1.9% and 0.2%, respectively.
According to Bloomberg, the bigger iPhone could sport a 6.5-inch screen, larger than the 6.2-inch of the Galaxy S9 Plus which was unveiled on Monday in Barcelona, Spain. The iPhone would also be bigger than Samsung Note 8’s 6.3-inch screen. The upgraded iPhone X, on the other hand, would have the same features as the original one along with an OLED screen and stainless steel chassis. Apple, however, could introduce a gold-colored iPhone X apart from the black and white options available now.
For the cheaper LCD iPhone, the report stated that it would look similar to the iPhone X including the Face ID and shrunk bezels. The chassis, however, would be made of aluminum rather than stainless steel. According to KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the phone would be priced somewhere between $700 and $800. Though it’s nowhere cheap, yet it is $200-$300 below the iPhone X. Kuo notes that the screen size would be 6.1 inches.
Bloomberg also hints that Apple would give space for two SIMs in the biggest iPhone. However, if the company pursues the idea of eSIM technology, then the dual-SIM might not be an option. With the eSIM tech, smartphones can connect to the cellular data networks without inserting a traditional SIM card. Google Pixel 2 already offers the eSIM for Project Fi customers.
Apple’s trio – if launched – would be a “very logical extension of the product line” for Apple: “One bigger, one cheaper, and one upgrade to the existing iPhone X,” said Bob O’Donnell, head of TECHnalysis Research, according to Reuters.
Until now, Apple has been relying on a couple of blockbuster devices that raked all the margins for the company. However as Apple enters the mature phase, it needs more products to support its growth, and possibly with three phones, the company is looking to continue that growth.
On Monday, Apple shares closed up 1.98% at $178.97.
