The rumoured 6.1-inch LCD iPhone may not feature Apple’s 3D Touch technology. In a note shared with investors (via Feng), noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that the company may skip on that feature due to cost restraints. The reason behind this is reportedly due to the addition of a Cover Glass Sensor (CGS). The report notes that this technology is aimed at relocating the device’s touch module from the display panel to the surface glass. It also adds that this results in a display that is lighter and more shock resistant. However, Kuo notes that this new tech would also increase the cost of the touch panel by about 15%. In order to offset this increase in cost, Apple may choose to remove 3D touch from the phone.
If this is true, then it would be interesting to see where Apple would go with its operating system inputs as 3D touch has been well integrated into the system by this point. It could also mean that the company might remove the 3D Touch feature from all future iPhones.
Kuo also believes that the 6.1-inch iPhone may make up 65 to 75 percent of iPhone shipments. He states that this could be due to its lower price point and feature parity with the two OLED devices that Apple may introduce alongside it.
To recall, Apple is tipped to unveil three new iPhones this year. This could include two second gen iPhone X phones with 6.5-inch and 5.8-inch OLED display. The third would be a 6.1-inch iPhone with and LCD that would be priced lower than the other two variants. This variant is also tipped to support dual SIMs. The single SIM variant of the device is tipped to cost between 550 – $650 and the dual SIM variant might get a price tag between $650 – $750.