2018 OLED iPhones Will Reportedly Offer 512GB Storage And Apple Pencil Support
We are fast approaching the next round of iPhones, as Apple typically announces new devices in September, followed by availability in October. That means the rumors, leaks, and speculation are heating up. Leading up to the launch event, at least one analyst believes Apple will announce an upgraded iPhone X model with 512GB of onboard storage, and Apple Pencil support.
Neither of those bits would be a surprise. Samsung, after, just recently announced its Galaxy Note 9 with a 512GB SKU, which users can double to 1TB if plopping in a capacious memory card into the phone's microSD card slot. The company also made a big to-do about its revamped S Pen with Bluetooth support. It's Apple turn to counter.
The folks at TrendForce, a market analyst firm, believe Apple is prepping three new iPhone models. All three will continue to support Face ID, and two of them will be billed as premium models with AMOLED displays, and an Apple Pencil option.
Image Source: TrendForce
"In terms of tech specs, the new iPhones may include two AMOLED versions, with a size of 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch respectively, as well as a less expensive 6.1-inch version with an LCD screen. The two premium models with AMOLED screen have already been assembled in the OEMs since late July, while the assembly of the LCD models is scheduled at mid-September. All three models are expected to be shipped in September and October as previously scheduled," TrendForce says.
Porting support for the Apple Pencil over to the company's iPhone line has been rumored since at least last October. It is already available for iPads, with Apple pitching it as "the best tool to reach for when you need pixel-perfect precision." It offers up to 12 hours of scribbling and sketching when fully charged, and costs $99 by itself.
Apple is said be positioning the lower end 6.1-inch iPhone variant as its main model, with the expectation that it will account for half of all new iPhone sales. That seems reasonable, given that the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are Apple's main phones right now, with the iPhone X serving the premium space.
Interestingly, the cost of entry into premium territory could be cheaper this time around. The 5.8-inch iPhone X could check in around $699-$749, while the larger premium SKU is expected to occupy the $1,000+ space.
