iPhone X 2 leaks hint at new features and pricing

Before all iPhones can switch to OLED displays in 2019, Apple has a trio of smartphones headed out later in the year, one of which still sports an LCD panel. Amidst reports of a delay concerning the LCD model, schematics have come to light giving us our potential first look into the device alongside its iPhone X Plus bigger brother.

The schematics for the budget LCD iPhone and the premium iPhone X Plus have been unveiled thanks to a continued collaboration between Forbes and accessory maker Ghostek, which has previously provided accurate details to the publication with the Samsung Galaxy S9.

Unsurprisingly, the images reveal that the iPhone X Plus will house a larger 6.5-inch screen compared to the current standard of 5.5-inches on the iPhone 8 Plus, despite reducing its footprint from 158.4 x 78.1 mm to 157.2 x 77.1 mm.

Despite Huawei beating Apple to the punch with its P20, the headline feature on the iPhone X Plus is its triple lens camera on the rear. This is currently in debate across the media, with many stating that the third slot is simply for the flash, however this contrasts previous schematics where the flash is distinctly smaller than the lenses themselves. Considering Apple is set to make triple lens cameras a standard in 2019, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the company adopt it early for its higher-tier handset.

Apple’s budget LCD iPhone isn’t set to sacrifice size, measuring a longer 147.12 x 71.52 mm than the current iPhone 8, which comes in at 143.6 x 70.9 mm. Although the schematics don’t give too much away, it is believed to carry a 6.1-inch screen.

The LCD iPhone will be stripped back of technology, housing a single rear camera instead of the iPhone X 2’s dual and iPhone X Plus’ supposed triple lens, which retaining the first generation of Face ID technology, while the other two upgrade to the second generation.

Face ID has supposedly caused numerous problems for the device, however, with Korean publisher The Bell reporting that neither Japanese firm JDI or LG Display can secure yields with the redesigned notch on the display.

If Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is correct, then the cheaper iPhone could start as low as $600 (£465), while the 5.8-inch iPhone 8 successor pushes the barrier up to $800-$900 (£600-£670). The top-end iPhone X Plus is expected to range closer to the current pricing of flagship handsets, with Kuo quoting between $900 and $1000 (£670-£745). All devices are believed to see an unveiling during September, with a full launch in November.

“We forecast that Apple will adopt a more aggressive price policy for the following reasons: (1) concern over the negative impact of a higher price in a mature smartphone market on selling momentum, (2) improved cost structure, which is mainly attributed to assembly yield improvements of end product & 3D sensing and cost reduction of components, and (3) increasing users of Face ID benefiting the promotion of the Apple service and ecosystem,” explains Kuo, via MacRumours.

KitGuru Says: Apple lowering its pricing can only be a good thing for everyone, considering it was one of the first commercial smartphone manufacturers to push the $1000 barrier. How much would you pay for a smartphone? Does any of Apple’s speculated line-up appeal to you?

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