Along with specs, the names Apple will give to its next iPhone have always been a matter of speculation. With new iPhones expected to launch in just a few weeks, there are now speculations that one of the new iPhones will be called the iPhone XX.
Is iPhone XX really the name of the next iPhone?
Like most, this latest rumor also comes from digging deep into the code of one of Apple’s products. A user named Gui Rambo reportedly found a reference to the name iPhone XX within Apple’s Xcode 10 app. The list where this reference has been found informs developers about the simulator version they can use for the apps being built within Xcode 10, which is currently in beta.
An interesting device appeared in Xcode 10's thinning options: "iPhone xx". Model identifier iPhone9,7. My guess is this will be the "low cost iPhone" (internally called LCP, model N84). Definitely not the marketing name tho. Thanks Max pic.twitter.com/URPXTNdk79
— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) August 22, 2018
It is highly unlikely that the next iPhone will be called the iPhone 20, or iPhone Double X, or the iPhone XX, but what this discovery indicates is that Apple has yet to name (at least in public) the new iPhone for which the reference has been found.
Along with the iPhone XX name, Rambo also discovered some more details about the phone. For instance, the handset may have an A10 chip, the same chip that powers the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. This comes as a bit of surprise, as Apple is expected to fit an A12 chip even in its mid-sized budget-priced model.
Apple is expected to launch three new iPhones this year, so it will be interesting to see what names they will carry, especially the one apparently referenced in the Xcode 10 app.
Biggest ever iPhone
Bloomberg also reported separately that Apple will launch its biggest ever iPhone this year. The news outlet reiterated the long-running report that the U.S. firm will release three new iPhones, but it adds that one of the three iPhones will have a 6.5-inch display. If this is true, it will be the biggest iPhone ever, even bigger than the recently launched Galaxy Note 9, which sports a 6.4-inch screen. For comparison, the iPhone X has a 5.8-inch screen. According to Bloomberg, the 6.5-inch iPhone will have a glass back with stainless steel edges.
The other two iPhones are said to have 5.8-inch and 6.1-inch screens. Bloomberg’s report is in in line with what analysts have been claiming since last year. Last year’s iPhone X is expected to be updated but retain the same size. The handset will likely get a boost in the processing speed and camera. Apple could give it a new name like the XS, similar to what it has used in the past to denote updated versions of its phones.
The third iPhone, which is expected to sport a 6.1-inch screen, will likely be the cheapest of the three, possibly around $800. This iPhone is expected to carry a lower-resolution LCD screen, compared to the OLED screens on the other two. According to the media outlet, the 6.1-inch model will be like the iPhone X, but it could be meant to succeed the iPhone 8. The handset will reportedly come in multiple colors and feature aluminum edges. The iPhone X has a stainless steel casing.
Further, the report says the iPhone will come in different colors. However, there is no information on if any color scheme will be added this time. Apple is also expected to tweak the software to allow for viewing content side-by-side in apps like Mail and Calendar. In addition, all the iPhone models will likely have Face ID rather than a fingerprint reader. Apple is also expected to launch new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros with Face ID sometime this fall.
New iPhones, new strategy
Experts believe Apple is adding bigger screen options to meet the demands of younger users who spend more time watching videos. Apple is also expected to follow a new strategy with the new iPhones. Rather than focusing on adding new users, the company is aiming to steadily raise the average selling price while increasing the number of active devices to push sales from its services, such as Apple Music. Experts believe the iPhone is entering a phase of 0-5% growth annually.
Since the iPhone acts as a hub for Apple’s other machines and services, such as the Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple Music, and more, this new strategy will help the company achieve its goals. The new 6.5-inch iPhone is also expected to support Apple in pushing the average selling price up. In the most recent quarter, Apple recorded an average selling price of $724, an increase of 19% from the same period last year.
