Well, it does make you wonder -- what do you call the iPhone models that follow last year’s iPhone X? Perhaps the logical choice would be iPhone 11, considering that the X in iPhone X’s name was meant to celebrate the ten year dominance of the first ever iPhone model (released back in 2007).
But what about using the name iPhone 9? It is kind of awkward because Apple had introduced three new iPhones last year -- the aforementioned iPhone X, and the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus models. In other words, the tech giant basically skipped the iPhone 9 name (and the iPhone 8s and the iPhone 7s names, too) so that it could use the iPhone X name to connote the tenth anniversary of the original iPhone.
Besides, it is highly likely (and heavily rumored) that Apple will be launching new iPhones inspired by the iPhone X’s design and features, it would make super sense to continue with the X branding. This is essentially what industry watchers from Guggenheim Securities believe. And there is more -- according to a report recently published by AppleInsider, the other new iPhone models will simply be called “iPhone” (with no extra numbering designation), while the X branding will refer to the more high end (read: pricier) iPhone versions.
Regardless of naming conventions, the upcoming new iPhones continue to generate some pre-unveiling buzz. Speculation has it that there will be at least three new models -- a 5.8 inch iPhone with an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display (like last year’s iPhone X), a 6.5 inch Plus model also with an OLED screen (more on this later), and a more affordable 6.1 inch liquid crystal display (LCD) iPhone.
So based on Guggenheim Securities’ prediction, the first two might be called the iPhone X Plus or the iPhone X2, maybe even the iPhone X (2018). As for the cheaper, smaller model, it might be called the iPhone (2018). Interestingly, Apple has already done something like this, particularly in its iPad lineup of tablets. The latest model has returned to a more basic “iPad” name, which differentiates it from the other relatively new offering, the iPad Pro tablets.
Meanwhile, there is talk that the upcoming iPhone X Plus might be offering support for an iPen (stylus) device. The folks at Rosenblatt Securities certainly believe so. This is an interesting development, mainly because unlike its rival Samsung, Apple has not been too keen on embracing a stylus for its smartphone devices. But hey, this is the world of mobile, wherein life is basically a constant change. If Apple does end up offering support for a stylus when launching the iPhone X Plus, its legions of fans will likely accept it with open arms, or more accurately, an open hand.
