Late last week it emerged Apple could be plotting a trio of iPhones in 2018, including a base-level 6.1-inch model with a lower-resolution LCD screen.
Now, the same source has offered added information that suggests the handset will feature more compromises compared to the touted 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch OLED phones.
According to noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via MacRumors), the 6.1-inch handset will sport an aluminium frame like the iPhone 8, rather than the stainless steel construction of the iPhone X.
The KGI Securities analyst says there will be no 3D Touch display technology, which would be a strange omission from Apple at this stage.
Related: iPhone X
The note to investors says there will be a single-lens camera and 3GB of RAM, compared to the 4GB Kuo believes will feature on the OLED phones. Kuo also says the new model will have a rectangle-shaped battery, like the iPhone 8, instead of an L-shaped cell within the iPhone X.
Face ID will be on board, thanks to the full-screen iPhone X-style layout, the note to investors says. There’s no word on whether it will have a glass back to assist with wireless charging.
According to the research note, the handset will sell for between $700-$800 and will be announced in September.
If this turns out to accurate – and we’re sceptical given the 3D Touch prediction – then the 6.1-inch iPhone will be the least inspiring offering Apple has brought to market. Regardless, Kuo believes this handset will make up to 50% of shipments for Apple’s 2018 phones.
Would this phone look like a red-headed stepchild next to a pair of OLED, stainless steel models? Let us know @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
