By Tim Werth
Perfectly timed with the ripe, red fruit that starts to appear in the fall, Apple usually delights its tech-inclined devotees with a new release right around the autumnal equinox. And it looks like the newest generation of iPhones may come with a lot of color — and a more affordable price tag — when they become available in a couple of months.
There are nearly 395 iPhones sold every minute, but of course, demand really starts to surge when new gadgets are first released. Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has revealed that consumers can expect some very exciting additions to the iPhone family in September. Kuo released a report that indicates there will be three new iPhones released in 2018 to appeal to a variety of tastes and budgets.
Apple is expected to release a newer version of what is essentially the 5.8-inch iPhone X with updated components; a 6.1-inch, budget-friendly iPhone that may be available in gray, white, blue, red, orange, and possibly gold variants (with another tipster suggesting that the company is also considering yellow and pink versions); and a 6.5-inch OLED iPhone that will likely be available in black, white, or gold. While the last option, dubbed for now as the iPhone X Plus, will probably cost just under $1,000, the most colorful iPhone will reportedly include facial recognition and an edge-to-edge LCD screen for only $650 to $750.
While this isn’t the first time Apple has explored the world of color — the iPhone 5C was available in five bold colors as well when it was released in 2013 — it’s certainly been a while since we’ve seen anything beyond neutrals and metallics. Apple has released crimson gadgets before to promote Product (RED), an organization that helps to fight HIV and AIDS in Africa, but this will be the first time that an orange iPhone will make its way to market. Though it may not be the most popular (or rhyme-able) hue, it could end up having mass appeal. And the fact that there might be a more affordable version available will certainly entice many customers to upgrade, especially because this version doesn’t seem like it sacrifices much in terms of design and function.
It’s no surprise that Kuo also predicts that Apple will continue to see growth. Not only will they reportedly see 70 million iPhone sales in the fourth quarter, but Apple will likely see a lot of success with the more affordable iPhone: Kuo suggests that this version will account for 55% of sales with this newest release, a share that will continue to grow throughout 2019.