Here's What the 2018 LCD iPhone Could Cost

This year will be an interesting one for iPhones. With speculation that the expensive iPhone X is underperforming, rumors have circulated that Apple will release three "bezel-less" devices, one of which will cost less by omitting the OLED panel for a traditional, yet large, 6.1" LCD. Now, thanks to the source of this rumor, we have an idea how much that lower-tier iPhone will cost.

According to Apple Insider, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple is poised to set the price of these LCD iPhones anywhere between $699 and $799. That's a reasonable price, considering that's exactly what the 4.7" iPhone 8 and the 5.5" iPhone 8 Plus cost, respectively. For a 6.1" edge-to-edge display, that seems like a good trade-off.

Kuo seems to think so, as well. The analyst anticipates Apple will ship 100 million units in 2018's second half, or as many as 115 million units if the LCD iPhone is priced on the lower-end of that spectrum. He sees this device taking off more than its more expensive OLED counterparts, most likely due to the price.

All rumors should be taken with a grain of salt. Kuo's is no exception, as he has a mixed track record for leaks. While he was right about many of the iPhone X's features, such as the 5.8" OLED display and Face ID integration, he was wrong about its release, as he claimed the device would be available alongside the iPhone 8. He also falsely stated the iPhone X would feature Touch ID in some fashion, however, even Apple Insider acknowledges Apple could have planned for the tech to be a part of its first bezel-less iPhone.

While we don't know yet how much Apple will charge for the 5.8" and the rumored 6.5" 2018 iPhones, we can guess the price tag will be considerably higher than $800. The iPhone X costs $1,000 for 64 GB of storage, which could be pushing prospective buyers away toward the 8 and 8 Plus.