Apple to Launch a Low-Cost, Metal-Backed iPhone in 2018: REPORT

Apple is preparing to launch a new 5.8- and 6.2/6.3-inch OLED iPhone 9, alongside a more affordable 6.1-inch LCD variant featuring a full metal construction.

According to a new report from Nikkei Asian Review, a source who’s apparently “privy to the company’s product designs” said that Apple will launch a 6.1-inch LCD phone that will “probably” have a metal back available in several colours.

“The 6.1-inch LCD model will likely sport a metal back (like older iPhone handsets) that will come in several colours. The two OLED handsets will come in two sizes — one either 6.2 or 6.3-inches long and the other 5.8 inches,” Nikkei said.

Switching to a metal construction certainly seems a strange move, considering the company’s switch to glass this year was, in a large part, to allow wireless charging. If Apple does build a metal iPhone the feature might have to be sacrificed, but given the phone’s LCD screen, one can only assume that this would be a budget model.

In addition to this new metal-backed budget iPhone, Nikkei‘s source claims that Apple is also planning two brand-new OLED smartphones. One model is apparently going to be around 5.8 inches (just like the iPhone X) and the other 6.3 inches. These models presumably won’t be budget phones, so they will likely have a glass back.

Most iPhone 9 rumours have only mentioned two smartphones, both of which are said to feature OLED displays. However, it makes sense that Apple would want to offer a low-end, more affordable model. This phone could possibly even be the follow-up to Apple’s iPhone SE.

The next generation of the iPhone is still a ways off, so make sure to take this information with the proverbial grain of salt.