If you’ve been itching to get yours hands on iPhone X but don’t want to spend $1,000 on a phone, Apple’s rumored 6.1-inch LCD handset could be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
But good luck getting one this fall. A new report, citing sources familiar with Apple’s plans, claims the device will suffer supply shortages at launch as a result of “minor complications” with its new display.
What’s more, some of the other products you we were hoping to see this week may not be announced until later.
Apple will open the doors of its Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park on September 12 to provide us with our first official look at a number of new devices on the way this fall.
Its next-generation iPhone lineup — which will consist of three handsets — will be the star of the show, but recent rumors have promised that Apple has lots more up its sleeve.
What should we expect to see on Wednesday?
Apple could have some surprises in store
An Apple Watch Series 4 is also likely to appear this week. It will be “the most significant” change Apple Watch has seen since it launched in 2014, Bloomberg reports, but it’s not yet clear what the device will offer beyond a larger, edge-to-edge screen.
Apple is also said to be planning a more affordable MacBook with a 13-inch Retina display that will replace the MacBook Air. The Mac mini is also in line for a refresh — one aimed at pro consumers — for the first time in four years.
Bloomberg suggests, however, that we’ll have to wait longer for Apple to reveal its new computers. They are scheduled to arrive this year — just not at the same “Gather round” event as the new iPhones.
One other product we could see this week is Apple’s AirPower charger, with wirelessly tops up an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously. The device was first unveiled a year ago, and sources say it could finally go on sale this month.
A warning on the 6.1-inch iPhone
When it comes to the iPhone lineup, Bloomberg reiterates that we can can expect a refreshed “iPhone Xs” with a 5.8-inch OLED display that will be available in gold as well as gray and silver. It will be joined by a larger model with a 6.5-inch OLED screen that looks set to be named “iPhone Xs Max.”
Many fans will be most excited about the third model — a lower-cost alternative with a 6.1-inch LCD screen that’s expected to look just like the iPhone X, but will be made of aluminum rather that stainless steel to keep costs low.
“Apple has considered calling the phone the ‘iPhone Xr’,” the report adds. Others have claimed it will be called “iPhone Xc.” The device is expected to cost as little as $699, which would make it substantially more affordable than its siblings — but it might be hard to get hold of initially.
“Apple has faced tight supply of the new low-cost model due to minor complications fitting backlights for the LCD screen,” the report continues. “Apple has faced tight supply of the new low-cost model due to minor complications fitting backlights for the LCD screen.”
Apple may even delay the launch of the new LCD iPhone, one analyst warns.
We’ll find out more during Apple’s big keynote on September 12. In the meantime, you can read our roundup of everything we expect from the event.
