iPhone X-Style Model With LCD to Replace iPhone 8: KGI's Ming-Chi Kuo

Months after tipping the development of three new models in the 2018 iPhone lineup, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo now claims that Apple is setting the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone model price as a replacement for the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus - hinting it to be as affordable as $699 (approximately Rs. 44,670). It has also been claimed that the iPhone maker has estimated to sell 100 million units of the LCD iPhone model that was recently reported to resemble the iPhone X with a similar, thin-bezel display. The cheaper price than the other two models and an iPhone X-like design are majorly supposed to help the new iPhone to attract the masses. Notably, Kuo previously divulged that the iPhone X, which was launched in last September, will "go to end of life around mid-2018" to give space to its next-generation models, including the LCD version.

Kuo's latest note to investors, as shared by folks at 9to5Mac, claims the LCD iPhone model will use components such as an aluminium frame instead of a stainless steel body of the iPhone X. However, in spite of not featuring premium materials, the model in question is said to looks similar to a top-end iPhone in style. This is mainly expected to result in as high sales as 100 million, countering the lifetime shipment estimation of the iPhone X that is expected to hit the mark of 62 million units, and making the cheap model Apple's most popular 2018 device. Moreover, KGI's Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple will "cease production" of the existing iPhone X this summer.

The 2018 iPhone family - as per Kuo - includes a new iPhone X style device with improved internals as well as a larger 'iPhone X Plus' with a 6.5-inch OLED display, while the cheapest among the three is the 6.1-inch LCD model. It is already reported that all three new iPhone models will come with a TrueDepth camera system to support Apple's Face ID technology and favour iPhone X' gesture controls. However, the 6.1-inch model is said to neither have a dual camera setup on the back nor 3D Touch. There are some reports that suggest the presence of the iPhone SE 2 as well, which is also likely to lack advancements such as 3D Touch and Face ID.

It is still unclear how Apple would choose the price of its 2018 iPhone lineup. Having said that, KGI claims that the LCD iPhone version will make up around 50 percent of overall shipments, with the other two iPhone models making up the difference. This means we can expect the entire new iPhone family would see the sale of around 200 million units in their lifetime.