Apple has set a milestone last year by introducing the iPhone X, which takes the smartphone competition to a whole new level with groundbreaking design and features. However, the Cupertino-based tech firm's latest flagship had a heavy price tag for all the new innovations. This time around, the next-generation iPhone XI 2018 handset is expected to receive a $100 price cut, making the device accessible to more consumers. Likewise, Apple is expected to commence with trial production phase earlier to avoid possible delays.
As reported by Apple Insider, the successor of the 5.8-inch iPhone X could be priced at $899, which is around $100 cheaper than the current flagship model. This is according to the investor memo provided by RBC Capital Markets analyst Amit Daryanani, who also believes in the earlier reports that Apple will release three new iPhone 2018 models this September. As the regular iPhone XI will get a $899 price tag, the 6.5-inch iPhone XI Plus variant is now expected to receive the iPhone X's original $999 price. At first, it was believed that the iPhone XI will continue the streak of increasing the price of future flagships, starting at $1,200.
Daryanani stated that Apple's move to lower the price of the iPhone XI 2018 will affect the average selling price of the company's upcoming devices. However, the analyst used the iPhone X as an example on how an expensive high-end tech only ended as a "limited success," and it is possible that Apple will experience the same modest sales with the iPhone XI if it was decided to retain the huge price. By making the iPhone X successor cheaper, the actual number of units sold would increase.
Aside from the iPhone XI and iPhone XI Plus, Apple is tipped to release a third 6.1-inch model that uses an LCD panel instead of OLED. Daryanani has nothing much to say about the iPhone LCD model, but it was already assumed that this device will be less expensive than the OLED-powered iPhone 2018. If anything, the analyst expects the LCD model to incorporate aluminum edges, while the OLED iPhones will use premium steel.
All three iPhone 2018 models are expected to use the Face ID feature and ditch the Touch ID altogether, especially that the handsets will no longer have the home button that houses the fingerprint sensor to give way to an all-screen display. Speaking of the Face ID, Apple is reportedly preventing another manufacturing delay of the components required by facial recognition technology, that is why the company will start with the trial production sooner than thought. It is likely that the trial production phase will begin in the second quarter of 2018, hoping that there will be no problem for a Q3 2018 launch of the iPhone XI.
