The iPhone X launch is just two days away, but that hasn't stopped rumors about Apple's next smartphones.
The latest speculation about Apple's 2018 offerings is more concerned with what the phones won't have than what new features are coming, as Apple is reportedly not bringing its innovative TrueDepth rear camera system to future iPhones.
Apple will focus on releasing the phones on time and stabilizing shipments, avoiding the difficulties that are reportedly present in the production of the X. However, it has been said that TrueDepth technology will become the norm in all future iPhone and iPad models, completely replacing the home button.
It appears that Apple will focus on "reducing costs and selling prices," which could potentially make the high-end technologies in today's X more affordable to consumers next year as they are implemented in other devices in the iPhone lineup.
It's thought that TrueDepth technology will eventually be included in new iPhones — but not anytime soon. The technology is still new, and there are other issues the company needs to work out, such as manufacturing challenges. Apple still has work to do to expand its AR ecosystem and its platform, ARKit, since AR functionality will likely be one of the key shortcomings of a TrueDepth rear system.
We don't know much about Apple 's plans for next year, but some rumors have already leaked in. An early report claimed that Apple is working on two new phones with 5.28-inch and 6.46-inch OLED displays, which would serve as complements to the 5.8-inch X, if Apple does release three devices again.
On the supply side, LG is likely to provide batteries for the 2018 iPhones, while Samsung is rumored to provide both OLED displays and chips. The next generation of devices, however, could be without Qualcomm modems, as Apple is said to be testing Intel and MediaTek chips, as Apple and Qualcomm are embroiled in a dispute.
Apple, however, does not comment on rumors and the company tends to keep its development plans secret. We won't know for sure what will happen with the next generation of iPhones until the next release, when it is officially revealed.
