Hours before the WWDC event kicks off, a major leak reveals what the next-gen 6.5-inch iPhone X Plus would look like. The tech giant is not going to unveil its flagship iPhones at WWDC. But folks at MySmartPrice have shared iPhone X Plus renders that show off the key design details of the handset. Separately, an analyst predicts that this year’s flagship iPhones could feature a triple camera system on the back.
Check out the iPhone X Plus renders
Last week, noted Twitter tipster @OnLeaks shared renders of the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone. This time, Steve Hemmerstoffer aka @OnLeaks has teamed up with MySmartPrice to share 6.5-inch iPhone X Plus renders to give you an idea of what the device would look like. Steve claims the renders are based on factory CAD info obtained from supply chain sources.
The iPhone X Plus renders confirm that the phone will have a bezel-less OLED display similar to last year’s iPhone X. It retains the display notch, the metal frame, and the vertically-aligned dual camera system of the last year’s flagship. The rear camera module protrudes a little, and an LED flash sits in the middle of the two cameras. The notch houses the front camera, ear speaker, and Face ID sensors. There is no physical home button or fingerprint sensor.
Steve Hemmerstoffer claims the iPhone X Plus would measure 157.5×77.4×7.7mm. He shows off the iPhone X Plus renders in white and black colors, but Apple may bring more color options. The current iPhone X comes in Silver and Space Gray colors.
Will iPhone X Plus have a triple camera system?
KB Securities analyst Kim Dong-won said in a report focused on Samsung that Apple’s next-gen iPhones and Samsung’s Galaxy S10 would sport a triple camera system on the back. The existing flagship models from both the vendors feature a dual camera setup. We have heard rumors about the triple camera system on iPhones, but those reports indicated that the feature would debut in 2019 at the earliest.
Kim Dong-won predicts Apple would introduce the triple camera setup this year itself with the iPhone X Plus. Earlier this year, Huawei launched the P20 Pro with three rear cameras. DxOMark found that the P20 Pro camera is far superior to the iPhone X and Galaxy S9 Plus. Both Apple and Samsung will have to catch up because the camera is an important feature people look at when buying a phone. DxOMark predicts the triple camera system will become widespread by next year.
Huawei’s P20 Pro features a huge 40MP RGB sensor, a 20MP monochrome lens, and an 8MP telephoto lens. All three lenses support optical image stabilization. If Apple incorporates triple camera setup on the iPhone X Plus, it could use the third lens for enhanced 3x optical zooming and augmented reality. Apple CEO Tim Cook has been bullish on augmented reality.
Apple is reportedly preparing to launch three new iPhones this year – two in the ultra-premium segment and one that would cost in the same range as the iPhone 8. All three models would have an iPhone X-like design with a top cutout. The 6.1-inch model would feature an LCD screen, 3GB RAM, and a single camera on the back. It would launch without the 3D Touch functionality.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts the LCD variant would cost between $550 and $750 depending on storage and whether you want the single-SIM or dual-SIM variant. The dual-SIM model is unlikely to release in the US due to resistance from wireless carriers. The 5.8-inch OLED iPhone X2 is said to start at $899, which is $100 lower than the iPhone X. The 6.5-inch iPhone X Plus is rumored to cost $999 for the base model. Both the OLED models would pack 4GB RAM. Apple could keep the triple camera setup exclusive to the iPhone X Plus.
MySmartPrice says all the three models would be powered by the A12 chipset. Taiwan-based TSMC has started producing the A12 chips based on its 7nm process technology. TSMC claims the 7nm chips will be 20% faster and up to 40% more energy efficient than the 10nm processors. Also, all the three models would support wireless charging.
Recently, ChargerLab reported that Apple would ship this year’s flagship iPhones with an 18W fast charger in the box. The 18W charger will be able to charge iPhones at least twice as fast as the 5W charger that comes with current iPhones. Though the iPhone X supports fast charging, Apple requires you to buy a separate $49 USB-C power adapter and a $25 USB-C to Lightning cable to take advantage of fast charging. The 18W charger will also enable faster data transfer.
