Apple Planning to Launch Three New OLED iPhones in 2018

[78Bandit]

Analysts weren't really taking a risk when they made this prediction were they, considering the iPhone 8 will step down a tier to make way for the 2018 8S (or whatever it will be called).

I'm not an analyst, but I predict the 8 won't drop down a tier. I predict the 8S will be released in three sizes of full-screen AMOLED display devices as rumored. The second-tier phones in 2018 will be the 7S, 7S+, and SE with LCD displays. The 8 will just disappear as a one-year model.

Apple is going to milk AMOLED as a premium-only feature for as long as it can, and a mix of $1,000 8S and $900 8 devices don't make sense. Apple needs something in the $600 range which is where the 7S would fit in.

For 2019 I can see Apple finally cutting the prices on the AMOLED phones and dropping LCD models altogether.

 

[KeanosMagicHat]

I'm not an analyst, but I predict the 8 won't drop down a tier. I predict the 8S will be released in three sizes of full-screen AMOLED display devices as rumored. The second-tier phones in 2018 will be the 7S and 7S+ with an LCD display. The 8 will just disappear as a one-year model. Apple is going to milk AMOLED as a premium-only feature for as long as it can, and a mix of $1,000 8S and $900 8 devices don't make sense. Apple needs something in the $600 range which is where the 7S would fit in.

For 2019 I can see Apple finally cutting the prices on the AMOLED phones and dropping LCD models altogether.

So you believe that 7S is going to remain at 2nd tier pricing for 2 years?

It's possible, but I doubt it.

 

[farmboy]

NEWSFLASH - iPhone 15 will use a photon display displaying a gazillion colours, DNA touch ID, x-ray vision, holographic projector and of course a 12MP camera with 25 lenses.

Do these "analyst" guys just sit there making this stuff up?

Apple is always holding back the good technology. If it's not implantable, no sale.

 

[randian]

What happened to Apple's investment in Micro LED? Nobody talks about that anymore.

Also, Apple displays usually have the most accurate calibration. How is that going to work with OLED? OLED displays on phones historically have blown out contrast and color saturation.

 

[PJivan]

Actually I am asking my self similar questions. What hardware feature will justify the premium price ($1000) Samsung can make and oled for $750. Just asking on a hardware comparison how will apple jusitify that premium when Samsung did(oled) for less at first I was convinced touch id built into the scree would be the Premium feature, but with that becoming less and less likely an oled screen for ~350 is not compelling.

Why asking yourself question you don't have the answer....just buy a samsung already, no need of waste other people time.

 

[576316]

I expect they are moving away from tick-tock

https://www.thoughtsonapple.net/single-post/2017/06/04/Post-9-iPhone-8-the-year-it-all-changes

Makes sense.

 

[9594864]

to much smoke so far for them not to have an idea that they got something cooking for next year.

I think whatever OLED phone we get this year will be a 1 year 10th anniversary model. Next year we get 2 new sizes and this year's current model.

No this year is simply a result of supply constraints. That's the reason there is only one size. Next year will have this one and a Plus sized model, and maybe a new SE sized

 

[78Bandit]

So you believe that 7S is going to remain at 2nd tier pricing for 2 years?

It's possible, but I doubt it.

Not really. It is getting quite confusing as Apple seems to be going toward three pricing tiers instead of just two this year. The 8 is going to be a premium model at $1,000. I think the 7S will come out at first-tier pricing this year at the same $649 and $769 pricing as the current 7 and 7+ models. The 7 will drop to second-tier at the $550 and $650 price points now occupied by the 6S.

Next year I see the 7S dropping to second-tier pricing while the 8S remains a premium model. Basically I think there won't be a first-tier phone in 2018, all we'll have will be premium 8S and second-tier 7S models.

 

[The_Machine]

That you know of, unless you work for Apple you can't say for sure what they have been working on for the past few years, for all we know they could of been working on facial recognition since Touch ID was first released. I'm willing to wait and see what Apple announce when they get up on stage and talk about it.

Touch ID works flawlessly in the dark. It has zero issue with skin tones. Are you saying that Apple has invented a magical front facing camera that will be able to work as flawlessly as Touch ID does in any lighting condition imaginable with all possible skin tones? I have no problem believing that Apple has tech they are working on internally that's ahead of the competition, but this would be leaps and bounds more advanced than anything on the market today or expected to be released in the near future. We may see it one day. Just not in 2017.

Nevermind the awkwardness associated with having to point the front facing camera at your face while activating Apple Pay at retail registers. The ease of use associated with this scenario pales in comparison to holding your phone out with a finger resting on the Touch ID sensor. There are reasons why Apple Pay is loved and the ease of use when paired with Touch ID is certainly one of them.

EDIT: What about common use cases such as wanting to unlock your phone on a sunny day wearing sunglasses? Or on a freezing cold day all bundled up? It's a lot easier to slip off a glove then to take off a scarf and hood wrapped tightly around your face. Motorcycle helmet? It's not hard to think of scenarios here were face rec would be less than ideal.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

It's not going to be the total package if it's missing TouchID...

If you don't think Apple's flagship phone isn't going to have TouchID then you are either being dishonest with yourself or don't understand Apple. Touch ID isn't just a way to get into your device -- it's a way to get into a user's wallet with ApplePay.

So prepare yourself for the total package phone that will be completely enchanting.

 

[Dave245]

Touch ID works flawlessly in the dark. It has zero issue with skin tones. Are you saying that Apple has invented a magical front facing camera that will be able to work as flawlessly as Touch ID does in any lighting condition imaginable with all possible skin tones? I have no problem believing that Apple has tech they are working on internally that's ahead of the competition, but this would be leaps and bounds more advanced than anything on the market today or expected to be released in the near future. We may see it one day. Just not in 2017.

Nevermind the awkwardness associated with having to point the front facing camera at your face while activating Apple Pay at retail registers. The ease of use associated with this scenario pales in comparison to holding your phone out with a finger resting on the Touch ID sensor. There are reasons why Apple Pay is loved and the ease of use when paired with Touch ID is certainly one of them.

If this even happens at all! People shouldn't get carried away because it may not even be true. But let's just say it is for a moment, Apple knows how good Touch ID is and they know how easy Apple Pay is to use (I've used it and it's great) therefore if they are using facial recognition to replace Touch ID they must have something that they think can be just as good and just as easy.

Also the little bits that have apparently leaked do give a little insight just not much, the rumour/leak has said that the facial recognition doesn't have to always be held up it also works when laying flat on a desk and so on, also it states that it's very fast and can scan a users face and unlock the phone within milliseconds! Also there a few patents that Apple have filed regarding facial recognition that sound VERY interesting and impressive!

Here are the links -

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/9to5mac.com/2017/07/06/mac-facial-recognition-auto-wake-patent/amp/

https://9to5mac.com/2011/11/22/appl...ject-recognition-and-verification-technology/

https://9to5mac.com/2011/12/29/appl...h-multi-user-logins-for-ios-devices-macbooks/

https://9to5mac.com/2012/03/29/appl...-cameras-with-object-and-gesture-recognition/

 

[routine_analyst]

Anyone else have terrible OCD issues while looking at how each of these 3 apps have different navigation bar heights? I really hope they find a better place for the clock if they decide to move the status bar into the black...

 

[subjonas]

Hopefully one of them is an iPhone SE-sized model with a ~5" screen. If the screen is edge-to-edge so that it covers the entire front of the device, this should be possible.

4.7" is the max size you could hope for on an SE with absolutely no bezels, assuming maintaining 16:9. So I don't know if that counts as ~5" to you. Closer to 4.5, isn't it?

(Side rant- yours wasn't a big stretch but some of the number bending that goes on in these forums is irritating. What annoys me is when people say "~" or "give or take" or "more or less" when they know very well it could not be more and it is definitely less--or the other way around. It's word manipulation and they resort to it because they're usually trying to argue a weak point and the actual number will reveal the weakness of their argument. Again this doesn't really have anything to do with you haha.)

Also I know a lot of people want to get rid of bezels on iPhones which makes sense but I argue not so on the SE. A bigger screen (despite being the same size body) will make it harder to use one-handed, particularly swiping from the screen top and bottom edges. And the main benefit of the SE sized iPhone is being able to easily use it one-handed.

 

[imnotthewalrus]

This is the problem they're going to have if indeed they do release and iPhone 7s, 7s Plus and '8' this year. You'll have this 3 iPhone line up that'll need updating every year, and at some point they're going to have to bring it back down to two. Is it really worth it for the sake of this 'special' iPhone this year? At what point does it just become a normal iPhone? They can't have one special iPhone that's better than the other two, every year.

While I understand what you are saying, the plateaus of "good, better, best" exist in homes and cars, etc., and have for quite some time now. Going back to when Apple launched the iPhone 5C, it became apparent that Apple was going to offer tiers based on affordability. IMO, that is not likely going to change.

 

[FelixDerKater]

Let's get just one before we get hasty.

 

[KazKam]

In other news, GM is planning to launch at least three new hybrid cars by 2019... Talk about your safe guesses.

 

[thebluepotato]

What still surprises me is the assumption that the spaces next to the speaker/sensors module will be used as a top bar replacement. Just looking at the UI suggested here, there would only be space for battery and percentage on the right (percentage being enforced when the phone is in battery saving mode) which means all other icons like alarm, GPS, DND, etc. would have to be "somewhere else" or scrolling (like the carrier name did or does). I don't think they'd be just below the battery as these pictures suggest, because it would look very odd to have these icon "clusters" on both sides.
Moreover, I doubt they'll have the clock in the middle because it either bumps into the UI (first screen) or creates a row of useless blank space (second screen).
I guess we'll either have a full black bar at the top or if Apple really pursues the ridiculous idea of "the biggest screen to bezel ratio ever™" at the cost of having this weird thingy at the top, we'll see some UI changes. Though I'd hate to see the clock go...

 

[Thunderhawks]

LOL at Apple "working on facial recognition technology" to replace Touch ID for the new model. This phone is going to be shown off in a handful of months. The solution would be far past testing stage by now.

On a side note, I don't buy for a second they are dropping Touch ID. There is no way that face rec technology is as good as or better then a finger print reader in all lighting conditions. The technology is just not there.

Are you saying you are ugly or why would you be worried about having your face scanned?

Seriously, why would you assume that Apple launches that and it isn't worked out.

Back up is the finger sensor and then type in passcode.

It will all be there!

 

[iMcLovin]

would be so funny if after all these rumors, iPhone 2017 would just be another iphone 7 with higher refreshrate and USB C in favor of lighting.

 

[Syk]

I would assume they will release a special 10th anniversary phone this year, that being the iPhone 8, and next year will serve as a "reset" of sorts, with three different size iPhone's of similar specs.

That's what I'm thinking next year may be a reset. The 7s/7sPlus keeps the same form factor as the current 6/7 iphones and next year they all go to the iPhone Anniversary Edition style for all their phones.

The decision for me is, especially if they do away with TouchID on the anniversary edition is do I get the anniversary edition or wait till next year for a similar designed phone with all the bugs worked out.

If it was a one off, it would be a no brainer

 

[WatchFromAfar]

If they're getting rid of touch id how is that going to work with Apple Pay?

3D facial recognition.

 

[mscice]

Iphone SE size with bezel free... hit me

 

[AppleScruff1]

This is the problem they're going to have if indeed they do release and iPhone 7s, 7s Plus and '8' this year. You'll have this 3 iPhone line up that'll need updating every year, and at some point they're going to have to bring it back down to two. Is it really worth it for the sake of this 'special' iPhone this year? At what point does it just become a normal iPhone? They can't have one special iPhone that's better than the other two, every year.

Why not? It would drive everyone here crazy!

 

[Cryates]

Touch ID is just so good. I'm nervous about a first gen version of facial recogniziton replacing it entirely, but honestly, I don't think Apple would make that bold of move without some self-assurance. Even moreso when we are talking about Apple, a company historically patient on letting new tech flesh out the kinks before implementation.

 

[imnotthewalrus]

Touch ID works flawlessly in the dark. It has zero issue with skin tones. Are you saying that Apple has invented a magical front facing camera that will be able to work as flawlessly as Touch ID does in any lighting condition imaginable with all possible skin tones?

Skin tones? Please tell me you weren't serious. "Sorry I didn't text you back right away, darling. I had to wash my make-up off so my iPhone would recognize my skin tone..."