The rumor mill is churning and it’s thought that Apple will release three iPhones in 2018, including two OLED models and one LCD model that could feature a metal back like the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, reports Nikkei.
Nikkei has cited an anonymous source “privy to the company’s product designs,” the source stating that one of Apple’s 2018 models will boast a 6.1-inch LCD display while the two OLED models will measure in at 5.8 inches and either 6.2 or 6.3 inches.
Apple’s LCD model will boast a metal back that will “come in several colors,” with the body for the device potentially being manufactured by Casetek, a Pegatron subsidiary.
The rumors are in line with previous details shared in a research not by KGI Securities’ Ming-Chi Kuo, albeit there’s some variance in size predictions for the three devices.
Kuo has stated that Apple will introduce three iPhones in 2018: an OLED model that measures in at 5.8 inches like the current iPhone X, an OLED model that measures in at 6.5 inches that will serve as a sort of “iPhone X Plus,” and a 6.1-inch model that features an LCD display.
Kuo has also predicted that all three models will feature full-screen edge-to-edge designs as well as TrueDepth camera systems like the one found on the iPhone X. The analyst has made no mention of a different casing material, as the current iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus all feature glass backs to support wireless charging.
A 6.1-inch LCD model with a metal body presumably made of aluminum would not be able to work with wireless charging, and it is not clear if Apple is willing to take a step back and remove a new key feature from future iPhones.
Apple is thought to be en route to releasing two new iPhone models for 2018, so the prediction for a third device comes as a bit of a surprise.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.