While the iPhone X just hit stores, there is already speculation about 2018’s iPhone. We are already starting to hear rumors about what to expect from next year’s iPhone models.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI Securities wrote a research note obtained by other Mac news outlets that detail his thoughts on next year’s iPhone.
Kuo believes that the new iPhones to be released in 2018 will feature a “more complex” metal frame design and casing assembly, composed of more parts than the iPhone X (iPhone X has four parts), in order to improve data transmission quality. According to Kuo, Apple has placed orders with Taiwanese suppliers Catcher Technology and Casetek for the new metal frames. Kuo says orders Apple has placed with Catcher and Casetek are for two models with stainless steel frames, one for a phone like the current iPhone X, and another for an iPhone X-like model with a larger screen (iPhone X Plus).
It’s worth noting that these are early predictions, though the analyst has a decent track record with Apple rumors. Back in September, Kuo predicted 2018 iPhones are unlikely to gain a rear-facing TrueDepth camera system. He also said 2018 iPhones would fully adopt the facial recognition (if Face ID was “well received” by customers), with a complete abandonment of Touch ID respectively.
