'iPhone X Plus' Leak Reveals Apple's Massive Smartphone

Gordon Kelly , CONTRIBUTORI write about technology's biggest companies  Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Yes, the leaks were right. Apple’s supersized new ‘iPhone X Plus’ is going to be massive… 

The ever-reliable MacRumors has attained photos from a “trial run of production equipment” showing the construction of Apple’s monstrous stablemate to the iPhone X. Notably in one shot, the size can clearly be seen far larger than the iPhone X. This is in-line with acclaimed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who has repeatedly stated the ‘iPhone X Plus’ will have a 6.5-inch display, larger than any rival phone.

Concept Creator

iPhone X 2018 concept by Concept Creator

Interestingly MacRumors notes both the flex cable shown in the photos and the part numbers align with existing formats “typically used by Apple” while “The rear design of the part is also very similar but not identical to the iPhone X display assembly.”

Adding further credibility is these photos allegedly come from LG’s plant in Vietnam. This should raise suspicion since Samsung is the exclusive supplier of OLED panels for the iPhone X, but Apple reportedly invested almost $3BN dollars in LG last year to exclusively develop OLED panels for future iPhones in order to reduce reliance on Samsung. LG has a major display plant in, yes, Vietnam.

So in short: while it is impossible to ever know if a leak is 100% reliable, the details here all add up.

That said, don’t get excited about an early release for the iPhone X Plus. Apple does trial production runs far in advance of mass production and a date code on these photos indicates the trial took place during the 46th week of 2017, aka mid-November.

That said, this all bodes well for Apple being far more organised in 2018. In 2017 the iPhone X launch came weeks after the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, and supply was highly constrained at first due to mass production problems.

Interestingly, the iPhone X Plus will be just one of two large new iPhones this year. Another iPhone X-inspired but more budget-friendly 6.1-inch ‘iPhone X SE’ is scheduled to launch alongside the second generation iPhone X and iPhone X Plus.

Bigger may not be better for every smartphone buyer. But if that is your feeling, Apple’s vision for the iPhone means you may have to shop elsewhere…