Apple is expected to announce its 2019 iPhone-lineup in September. And just like last year, the Cupertino giant is said to announce three iPhone models this year as well. These will be direct successors to the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. That said, a new report has emerged which indicates that Apple could add a cheaper iPhone model to the lineup.
However, this particular affordable model will lack features such as FaceID, given that facial recognition is one of the more expensive parts of a handset. Instead, this model could mark the return of Touch ID with a fingerprint sensor. That said, the cited source also suggests that Apple is working on two options for the Touch ID. One of them being the addition of TouchID on the back of iPhone, just like you’d find on Android devices. The other being placing the fingerprint reader under the screen.
Cheap iPhone Only for China
The report further adds that this more affordable iPhone model would be specifically aimed at the Chinese market. Now, this essentially means that this particular model with TouchID and no FaceID won’t be available anywhere else.
The reason being that Apple wants to handle the increasing popularity of cheaper handsets in China to compete against likes of Huawei, Xiaomi, and more. In markets like China and India, cheap Android alternatives keep popping up every day featuring bezel-less screens, more RAM and storage, and cameras with multiple lenses. Hence, in order to tackle the popularity of cheap Android alternatives, Apple needs to develop budget iPhone models for these markets.
That said, we’d take this infirmation with a pinch of salt as Apple has traditionally never compromised on features to bolster iPhone popularity and demand. Only time will tell whether this report turns out to be accurate.
As per earlier reports, Apple is widely expected to introduce three iPhone models this year as well. These are said to be the iPhone XI, iPhone XI Max, and iPhone XIR. Key sources also indicate that Apple’s 2019 iPhone-lineup will be the last generation to include an LCD model, as Apple plans to switch to OLED screens entirely from 2020 onwards.
