Cheaper 6.1-inch LCD 2018 iPhone expected to be Apple's most popular model
Apple has reportedly made some alterations to its 2018 iPhone orders, and is expected to deliver more of the 6.1-inch LCD 2018 iPhone in the fall than the OLED models combined.
Rumblings from the Chinese supply chain suggest that component manufacturers are seeing a different balance of orders than they were expecting, given rolling iPhone X sales throughout the year.
The Wall Street Journal report on Friday cites industry executives with "direct knowledge of production plans" again remarking that Apple originally wanted about the same number of LCD and OLED screens. However, at some point the plans allegedly changed, and Apple wants more LCD models now.
This isn't the first time that this has been claimed, or predicted. In February, Ming-Chi Kuo, then with KGI Securities, expected the same thing.
Besides the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone first rumored in January, Apple is rumored to add two new OLED models to its iPhone lineup this fall including a 5.8-inch iPhone X replacement. A 6.5-inch OLED "iPhone X Plus" is also supposedly in the works.
All 2018 iPhones are said to boast logic boards built on substrate-like PCB (SLP) technologies first adopted by iPhone X and iPhone 8. The 5.8- and 6.5-inch OLED iPhone models will sport stacked board designs like iPhone X, while the 6.1-inch LCD model will stick to a traditional single-layer layout, Kuo said.
As far as specifications, Kuo believes manufacturers will adopt a finer pitch of 28-30 nanometers on the boards, down from the 30-35 nanometers applied to 2017 phones, as part of efforts to reduce PCB size and improve energy efficiency.
Current price predictions put the 6.1-inch LCD phone pricing at between $600 and $700.
Moving up the product line, the 5.8-inch OLED model is expected top be between $800 to $900 and the 6.5-inch OLED "iPhone X Plus" will be priced around $900 to $1000.
All the two OLED models will likely ship in quantity in September and early October. One report claims that the 6.1-inch model will be pushed to November because of difficulties cutting an iPhone X-like "notch" out of a LCD panel.
Rumblings from the Chinese supply chain suggest that component manufacturers are seeing a different balance of orders than they were expecting, given rolling iPhone X sales throughout the year.
The Wall Street Journal report on Friday cites industry executives with "direct knowledge of production plans" again remarking that Apple originally wanted about the same number of LCD and OLED screens. However, at some point the plans allegedly changed, and Apple wants more LCD models now.
This isn't the first time that this has been claimed, or predicted. In February, Ming-Chi Kuo, then with KGI Securities, expected the same thing.
Besides the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone first rumored in January, Apple is rumored to add two new OLED models to its iPhone lineup this fall including a 5.8-inch iPhone X replacement. A 6.5-inch OLED "iPhone X Plus" is also supposedly in the works.
All 2018 iPhones are said to boast logic boards built on substrate-like PCB (SLP) technologies first adopted by iPhone X and iPhone 8. The 5.8- and 6.5-inch OLED iPhone models will sport stacked board designs like iPhone X, while the 6.1-inch LCD model will stick to a traditional single-layer layout, Kuo said.
As far as specifications, Kuo believes manufacturers will adopt a finer pitch of 28-30 nanometers on the boards, down from the 30-35 nanometers applied to 2017 phones, as part of efforts to reduce PCB size and improve energy efficiency.
Current price predictions put the 6.1-inch LCD phone pricing at between $600 and $700.
Moving up the product line, the 5.8-inch OLED model is expected top be between $800 to $900 and the 6.5-inch OLED "iPhone X Plus" will be priced around $900 to $1000.
All the two OLED models will likely ship in quantity in September and early October. One report claims that the 6.1-inch model will be pushed to November because of difficulties cutting an iPhone X-like "notch" out of a LCD panel.
Comments
No 3d touch i'll go for the big OLED
If they can limit their fall lineup to the SE, 8 (no plus model), X(LCD), and X(OLED) then it is very possible for the X(LCD) device to take the crown by a large margin.
Seeing as 75% - 80% of current purchasers went with a device that has huge forehead and chin bezels I don't think a 1/4" bottom bezel covering the LCD ribbon and backlight is going to be an issue at all, particularly when faced with a $200 - $300 premium to go with AMOLED.
But, even with the extreme price premium, the X was still the single best selling iPhone this year.
The decisions involve:
-- Price
-- New vs old technology
-- Screen technology
The 6.1" LCD will win on 2 of the 3 factors and take first place.
In 2017, the iPhone 8 could have taken that place -- but, its price differential over a nearly identical 7 held it back. The iPhone 7 simply gave more for less.
I have a 7 and would trade it & a good sum of money for a full featured phone with the dimensions of the 5S/SE.
I love everything about the 7 except the fact that I leave it down all over because I avoid putting it in my pocket, where my phone should be, like every other iphone I have owned before it...
C'mon APPLE! how bout a "sport" phone marketed as a more rugged, full featured phone.
I could care less if its thinner than a 5S, never once held up my 5S and said "this is just too thick".
As for the display, The 7 is LCD and is more than sufficient (so wasnt the 5S). If most of us want a cinematic experience, we would do it on a TV (or perhaps an ipad).
also could care less what tech unlocks the device as long as it functions well. faceid or a fingerprint sensor in screen or even on the back of the device is fine.
Lotta working class or active people that would prefer a smaller & more rugged form factor.
My dream iphone would be same/similar dimensions to 5S but full screened like the X w/ a great battery life, waterproofing and a screen that is easily replaced.