iPhone X2 2018 release date, specs & price latest rumors: Apple to launch cheaper flagship

An attendee checks out a new iPhone X during an Apple launch event in Cupertino, California, U.S. September 12, 2017.REUTERS/Stephen Lam

It has already been predicted that Apple is set to launch three new iPhone 2018 models this year; one of them to include the direct successor for the 5.8-inch iPhone X.

Unofficially dubbed the iPhone X2, the upcoming handset is reportedly getting a lower price than the 2017 flagship, which has something to do with the reduced cost of the device's key components. 

As claimed by The Inquirer, the Cupertino-based tech giant is expected to lauch the iPhone X successor or the iPhone X2 later this year, along with the bigger iPhone X2 Plus variant. The third iPhone 2018 model would be the slightly larger 6.1-inch device that uses an LCD panel instead of OLED. With this, the LCD iPhone variant is thought to be the cheapest model yet.

However, Digitimes recently tipped that the 5.8-inch iPhone X2 is actually getting the cheapest price out of the three, and even possibly the least expensive iPhone flagship in years.

The reduced price of the iPhone X2 2018 is due to Apple getting a 10 percent less cost of the materials that will make up the device. This percentage would actually have big implications in the iPhone X2's final price tag, as the cost of the device itself will be much cheaper than originally thought.

Specifically, Apple was able to secure a 10 percent price cut from the current iPhone X model's total manufacturing cost, which is computed at $412.75. The cause of this price drog is mainly attributed to the cheaper cost of OLED panel this year.

With this development, the iPhone X2 is now expected to be the cheapest 2018 premium handset model from Apple, in spite of using an OLED screen. On the other hand, the LCD-powered iPhone will be the second cheapest because of the bigger screen size and RAM capacity, while the iPhone X2 Plus will be the most expensive.

When it comes to the notch display, the recent reports are not conclusive if the iPhone X2 2018 will go with a smaller notch or no notch at all. It appears that this modifications in the notch will depend on the front camera technology to be used in each of the iPhone 2018 models.