Next year’s 6.1-inch iPhone will revert to a more colorful metal back: report

Last month, there was speculation from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo indicating that we could see three new full-screen iPhones with notched displays launch in 2018: one with a 6.5-inch OLED display, another with a 5.8-inch OLED like the iPhone X, and still another with a 6.1-inch LCD display. Now, a report by Nikkei (and spotted by 9to5Mac) says that the LCD model “will probably sport a metal back” and be “available in several colors.” The paper cites a single unnamed source that supports Kuo’s claim of two premium OLED-based iPhones, but differs slightly on the dimensions of what would presumably be the Plus model. “One about 6.3 inches long and the other 5.8 inches,” reports Nikkei citing its source.

While the glass on the front and back of all three of the latest iPhone models is super glossy and luxe, the cost to repair them can quickly burn a hole in your pocket. Repairing the iPhone X’s screen costs $279, more than twice the price of an iPhone 6 screen replacement ($129), and about 65 percent higher than the iPhone 8’s screen ($169). Further, the glass on the back of the iPhone 8 is more expensive to fix than its front display. Moving to an aluminum back on the rumored 6.1-inch LCD phone would better position it as the base model iPhone and probably save Apple, and iPhone buyers, a few bucks in the process.