Apple’s New iPhones Are Simply ‘S’ Upgrades Of iPhone X, Insiders Claim

Apple skipped an “s” upgrade when it announced the iPhone 8 last year. However, it is now believed that the next-generation iPhones the tech giant is launching next month would only be “s” upgrades of the iPhone X.

Some people inside Apple told Bloomberg Monday that the tech giant has internally labeled the launch of the new smartphones as an “s year.” This is the designation Apple uses when it is debuting new handsets that are simply minor upgrades of their predecessors. This means they will retain the previous design but will come with internal upgrades.

Based on previous reports and leaks, Apple is preparing to launch three new handsets this year. The models will allegedly sport the edge-to-edge screen and other design elements of the iPhone X. Apple has reportedly decided to do this because it intends to bring more significant changes to its phones that are coming out next year.

The iPhone X wasn’t really welcomed by some Wall Street analysts, but it did perform strongly on the market. In early 2016, Apple challenged itself to having 1 billion active devices. This year, it changed the figure to 1.3 billion. Analysts predict that Apple’s new iPhones this year could help Apple achieve the new milestone.

The revelation about Apple’s “s” upgrades for this year does not really come as a surprise. Several sources have already disclosed that the successor to the iPhone X will still come with a 5.8-inch OLED screen, with its only upgrades being the improved processing speed and better camera.

Apple’s biggest variant will likely steal the show from the iPhone X successor, however. It is said to feature an OLED display that measures 6.5 inches diagonally. People familiar with the matter claimed this would be the largest iPhone by far. They also noted that the device will have a distinct software feature, which will allow it to display content side-by-side in apps like Calendar and Mail.

The third next-generation iPhone is said to be a low-end model unlike the other two. It is reportedly sporting a 6.1-inch LCD display, aluminum edges instead of a stainless steel frame, and a case that comes in multiple colors. This is actually being compared to 2013’s iPhone 5c, the low-end iPhone that came with colorful plastic casings. The product did not do well, but Apple is willing to give the strategy behind it another try with its upcoming LCD model.