Investment firm RBC Capital has corroborated predictions from analysts including Forbes and KGI Securities that Apple will release three new iPhone models later this year. (Apple to Release Three New iPhones in 2018?)
The finer points of RBC’s estimations also tie in with the others’, including screen sizes and display technology—in short, a 5.8″ OLED successor to the iPhone X, a 6.1″ LCD version and, probably the most heavily-discussed of the three new additions, a 6.5″ OLED phablet, which Forbes revealed could be the most expensive iPhone ever. (Apple to Release the Biggest, Most Expensive iPhone This Year?)
RBC has estimated a more restrained unit order from Apple, at around 80 to 90 million units, half of which are believed to be for the LCD version, quite a downward adjustment from Digitimes’ panel order predictions from last month. (Apple to Add 250-270 Million Flat Panels to its Basket in 2018)
Apple is believed to be implementing far tighter cost management going forward. Last month, Digitimes Research revealed that this year’s 5.8″ model will have a bill-of-materials 10% lower than that of the iPhone X. (iPhone X Successor Might be Cheaper Thanks to Reduced BOM)
