Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

The most expensive iPhone may lose one of its unique features in 2019

Andy Boxall
By

If you want an iPhone with an OLED screen, not an LCD, today, you have to purchase the iPhone X. That means spending at least $1,000 on Apple’s most expensive iPhone ever. However, in 2019 all iPhone models may use an OLED screen, according to the latest rumors. If so, all iPhone models will likely share the same screen technology across the range, and not only the flush-with-cash will be able to enjoy an iPhone X-style OLED display.

A report published by Korean news source ETNews quotes anonymous Apple officials, stating the company has started planning its 2019 iPhone range, and has ticked the box marked OLED screen for, “all three models.” The mention of three different iPhone models means an additional third phone will join the traditional iPhone and iPhone Plus versions. Currently, Apple sells the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X. However, it was never certain the iPhone X would continue as an annually updated model, given its introduction on the iPhone’s anniversary.

Recommended Videos

The iPhone X is the first iPhone to use an OLED screen, and its performance is excellent. It’s also a reason for the phone’s higher price. It’s not certain the introduction of OLED screens across the iPhone range would mean higher prices in 2019. Again quoting an anonymous official, ETNews says costs are lowering elsewhere in production — specifically cameras and sensors — which may offset the extra cost of an OLED. Don’t expect any future iPhone X to get cheaper; but don’t expect regular iPhone models to significantly rise in price either, at least solely due to the screen technology.

Related

The inclusion of an OLED screen isn’t the only rumor we’re hearing about the 2019 iPhone already either. Talk of a 3D sensing, triple-lens camera arriving on at least one model has also started, which may drive Apple’s augmented reality intentions forward for the year.

Samsung, LG, and many other manufacturers use OLED for phones today, and there’s no reason for this to decrease in the future. Samsung and LG are also the world’s top manufacturers of OLED screens.

For now, Apple’s OLED plans are rumors and haven’t been confirmed by the company. Additionally, because this relates to the 2019 iPhone model range, components and feature decisions taken now may change before release.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Andy Boxall
Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Here’s how Apple could change your iPhone forever
An iPhone 15 Pro Max laying on its back, showing its home screen.

Over the past few months, Apple has released a steady stream of research papers detailing its work with generative AI. So far, Apple has been tight-lipped about what exactly is cooking in its research labs, while rumors circulate that Apple is in talks with Google to license its Gemini AI for iPhones.

But there have been a couple of teasers of what we can expect. In February, an Apple research paper detailed an open-source model called MLLM-Guided Image Editing (MGIE) that is capable of media editing using natural language instructions from users. Now, another research paper on Ferret UI has sent the AI community into a frenzy.

Read more
There’s a big problem with the iPhone’s Photos app
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus's gallery app.

While my primary device these days continues to be my iPhone 15 Pro, I’ve dabbled with plenty of Android phones since I’ve been here at Digital Trends. One of my favorite brands of phone has been the Google Pixel because of its strong suite of photo-editing tools and good camera hardware.

Google first added the Magic Eraser capability with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, which is a tool I love using. Then, with the Pixel 8 series, Google added the Magic Editor, which uses generative AI to make edits that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. There are also tools like Photo Unblur, which is great for old photographs and enhancing images that were captured with low-quality sensors.

Read more
Why you should buy the iPhone 15 Pro Max instead of the iPhone 15 Pro
Someone holding an iPhone 15 Pro Max outside on a patio, showing the back of the Natural Titanium color.

If you want the best iPhone money can buy in 2024, you have two options: the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. They have the same chipset, similar display technology, nearly identical cameras, etc. It's a really close battle, save for the fact that the iPhone 15 Pro is $200 cheaper.

It might be tempting to save some cash and choose the iPhone 15 Pro, but I recommend you splurge for the larger (and more expensive) iPhone 15 Pro Max. Why? Let me explain.
It's a big iPhone you won't hate using

Read more