Second-Generation iPhone X Estimated to Cost Apple Up to 10% Less to Manufacture - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Second-Generation iPhone X Estimated to Cost Apple Up to 10% Less to Manufacture

iphone x notch duoApple has managed to reduce the manufacturing cost of its iPhone X successor to a level much lower than the current flagship model, according to DigiTimes' research analyst Luke Lin.

Lin cited information from Apple's upstream supply chain as indicating that the new device's MBOM [manufacturing bill of materials] will be more than 10% lower than that for iPhone X. He added that the MBOM of the iPhone X was more than US$400 in 2017.

Apple is rumored to be introducing three iPhones in 2018: The first is said to be a second-generation version of the iPhone X, with the same 5.8-inch OLED display, while the second can be thought of as an "iPhone X Plus" with a larger 6.5-inch OLED display.

Apple is also reportedly planning to introduce a new, more affordable 6.1-inch iPhone with an LCD display. However, recent engineering samples from the 5.8-inch device are said to show components with lower-level specifications or lower capacities than those of the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone, with LPDDR memory being one of the major differences.

According to Lin, the cost reduction could see Apple position the new 5.8-inch device as the cheapest model of all three next-generation iPhone models. The analyst also believes a project to develop a 5.8-inch LCD iPhone has been suspended since the end of the Lunar New Year holidays in mid-February and may be eventually terminated.

Lin reckons weak demand for iPhone X meant Apple needed a lot less OLED panels from Samsung than it said it would, which gave the Korean firm more bargaining power with regards to panel quotes for the next generation of iPhones. However, Apple has supposedly reached an agreement with Samsung and secured "satisfactory terms" that will prevent display panel cost increases.

DigiTimes' sources often provide reliable information, but the site has a mixed track record when it comes to interpreting that information and accurately deciphering Apple's plans, so it would be wise not to base any future purchasing decisions on today's report.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display family lineup feature

Apple Announces OLED MacBook Pro With Touch Display

Wednesday October 28, 2026 10:11 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new high-end MacBook Pro, which is available in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes. The new device has a PROLED XDR display that supports touch gestures, and a glowing rear Apple logo. Pricing on the MacBook Pro starts at $2,899 for the 14-inch model and $3,399 for the 16-inch model. Apple says the MacBook Pro has the "world's best display in a pro laptop." The PROLED...
iPad mini OLED feature 1

Apple Announces New iPad Mini With 8.5-Inch OLED Display, A20 Pro Chip, and More

Monday October 26, 2026 6:05 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new iPad mini with a larger 8.5-inch OLED display, a nano-texture display option, a thinner and lighter design, an A20 Pro chip, a new Acoustic Display audio system that eliminates speaker holes, IP67-rated water and dust resistance, a landscape front camera, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support, and more. Altogether, Apple says this amounts to the iPad...
MacBook Pro Ultra Feature 1

Apple to Launch Touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro and OLED iPad mini on October 27

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:31 pm PDT by
Apple will introduce new OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro models and an OLED iPad mini "on or around" Tuesday, October 27, reports Bloomberg. The launch will also include an M6 14-inch MacBook Pro and an M6 iMac. The October 27 follows Apple's October 13 debut of a new smart home hub, a revamped Apple TV 4K, and a refreshed HomePod mini. Earlier this month, MacRumors reported that Apple would do ...

Top Rated Comments

113 months ago
Thank you for beta-testing.

Now give me back my LCD.
Why?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jadot Avatar
113 months ago
That’s nice man. And really, the quoted text is all you had to write. I don’t know why people ditching iOS always follows some kind of justification. No one cares. If you come back a year later no one cares. If you stay no one cares.
I don't care if you care or not, silly. I've been using Apple stuff for 20 years, and up until recently I have existed in that eco system pretty much exclusively. I'm a pro user, and it turns out that costs matter in business.

At the beginning of the 2000s Apple was really the only game in town for digital creatives, so we stuck with Apple stuff. That's all very well, but slowly Apple have 'ditched' as you put it, various Pro centric software and hardware in favour of consumer devices. An iPad Pro is a fantastic computer, but it's still not going to cut it as a workstation. Cutting off all of the connections on a MacBook pro in favour of a fairly useless Touch Bar and neutering the RAM is kicking pros in the guts. But there never used to be an alternative.

The point is that the alternatives have caught up, and in some cases overtaken Apple. And for less money.
I used to think that iOS was the only OS. It works out that android does a lot of things better, and it turns out that it doesn't matter anyway. Microsoft have a superior cloud platform (over iCloud)and Google are open house when it comes to software and digital assistants have left Siri way behind.

Apple Music is great, but then so is Amazon Music, or Spotify.

So let me help you out. You say you don't know why people ditching iOS have to justify it - well I don't. But the glory of the internetz means I can. I use iOs on my iPad. I use android on my Google Phone. I Use One Drive for my cloud services. I use Amazon for my Music. I use an iMac for my business, and my wife uses a PC for hers.

That wasn't possible 5 years ago, maybe even less.

I thought I'd never be able to not have to only use Apple for services and would have to pay the premium, but now I don't.

You don't have to care about that, but on a forum that's discussing the merits of a phone that is over $1K that even die hard iOS fans don't have to own when the competition is better (for some things), cheaper (in every case), and less restricting, less of a walled garden, then some people might actually find that it's of use to actually (ironically?) "Think Different" for a change.

I don't need you to care and I don't need you to advise me on all I had to write, when in the end I could just throw that one right back atcha, mate.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
113 months ago
Dear Apple,

We need an iPhone X-style "all screen" iPhone with reduced size and weight. Bring it back to around the iPhone 6/7/8 dimensions, or even slightly smaller. But with the larger all-screen display.

Thanks!
This is basically what the X is.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jadot Avatar
113 months ago
Please stop with the Android compare. Compare that with the $950 Note. Why should ANDROID owners pay a premium for a phone that runs Android and costs 3X as much?

Apple users pay more because of iOS, support, fashion, etc.

Please stop comparing iOS to Android like they are the same. No one wants Android when they use iOS. It's better to ask Android users why they buy flagship Android phones.
I use iOS and MacOS too, and I also use Android devices. I want and prefer Android because I think it's better, more open, more versatile, and less closed off. I know that doesn't mean anything to you, but there you go.

The idea that paying more for iOS makes it better is out of date. It's not 2008 any more.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
113 months ago
I guess. Whatever works for you. $200 is nothing though.
$200 is not nothing. Its still $200 that can buy food for a week at least. (months in certain countries).

Also, to those that say this is not a phone and they don't need to buy gps, camera etc.? Please wake up! That time has passed for this justification. EVERY phone now has these features so that lame excuse no longer works.

iPhone X might be technically powerful but design and price is awful and Apple did cross the line here for many customers.

Overall, I really hope that people will vote with the wallet this time as otherwise we will have Apple PHONES costing $2000 soon or more!

and btw. all these technological marvels usually come in 2-3 years to all mid range phones so people really need to ask if having the latest and greatest at the time is really crucial to them or if they are just spoilt brats.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H3LL5P4WN Avatar
113 months ago
NOOOOOOOOOO! I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO A PHABLET JUST TO HAVE THE TOP END SPECS!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
6 hours ago
Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More
Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More
7 hours ago
More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try
More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try
21 hours ago
Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro
Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro
23 hours ago
Apple Store With All-New Design Opening Soon in Southern California
Apple Store With All-New Design Opening Soon in Southern California
23 hours ago
Control the Glowing Apple Logo on Your New MacBook Pro
Control the Glowing Apple Logo on Your New MacBook Pro
1 day ago
Apple Shares New 'Apple Card: Apply and Use in Minutes' Ad
Apple Shares New 'Apple Card: Apply and Use in Minutes' Ad
1 day ago
Apple Says More Than 100,000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo, Here's What's Still Missing
Apple Says More Than 100,000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo, Here's What's Still Missing
1 day ago
Early Black Friday Deals Kickoff With Steep Discounts on Apple Watch Ultras and More
Early Black Friday Deals Kickoff With Steep Discounts on Apple Watch Ultras and More
1 day ago
The MacRumors Show: iOS 27.3 Looks Like a Huge Update
The MacRumors Show: iOS 27.3 Looks Like a Huge Update
1 day ago
Best Buy's Black Friday Event Begins With Sitewide Savings on Apple, TVs, More
Best Buy's Black Friday Event Begins With Sitewide Savings on Apple, TVs, More
1 day ago
Apple Releasing Yet Another Two New Products Next Week
Apple Releasing Yet Another Two New Products Next Week
1 day ago
MacBook Air Drops to Lowest Price in Months With Amazon's $250 Discount
MacBook Air Drops to Lowest Price in Months With Amazon's $250 Discount
1 day ago
Apple Rumored to Drop the iPhone's Action Button Next Year
Apple Rumored to Drop the iPhone's Action Button Next Year
1 day ago
Apple's Extended Return Policy Now in Effect for 2026 Holiday Season
Apple's Extended Return Policy Now in Effect for 2026 Holiday Season
1 day ago
Apple Music Classical Updated With New Icon and Refreshed Design
Apple Music Classical Updated With New Icon and Refreshed Design
1 day ago
OLED iPad Mini, M6 iMac, and New MacBook Pros Available From Today
OLED iPad Mini, M6 iMac, and New MacBook Pros Available From Today
1 day ago
Apple Surveys iPhone Duo Buyers About Crease and Camera
Apple Surveys iPhone Duo Buyers About Crease and Camera
2 days ago
Apple's First Touchscreen Mac is Now Arriving to Customers
Apple's First Touchscreen Mac is Now Arriving to Customers
2 days ago
Claude Gets Personal Finance Feature With Bank Account Linking
Claude Gets Personal Finance Feature With Bank Account Linking
2 days ago
Apple Arcade Adds Crossy Road Rush and NBA 2K27
Apple Arcade Adds Crossy Road Rush and NBA 2K27
2 days ago
Apple's New HomeView Smart Home Hub: Here's How Much RAM It Has
Apple's New HomeView Smart Home Hub: Here's How Much RAM It Has
2 days ago
iPad Mini vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Now Just $50 Apart
iPad Mini vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Now Just $50 Apart
2 days ago
First iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Public Betas Now Available
First iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Public Betas Now Available
2 days ago
Apple Announces a New Mac Sales Record
Apple Announces a New Mac Sales Record
2 days ago
Paid $200 for Logic Pro? Apple Says You Won't Get This New Feature
Paid $200 for Logic Pro? Apple Says You Won't Get This New Feature
2 days ago
Instagram's Edits Video Editor is Now Available on Mac
Instagram's Edits Video Editor is Now Available on Mac
2 days ago
Prevent Siri and Search From Accessing Specific iPhone Apps
Prevent Siri and Search From Accessing Specific iPhone Apps
2 days ago
Best Early Black Friday Deals on iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo
Best Early Black Friday Deals on iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo
2 days ago
MacBook Pro PROLED XDR Reviews Are In: Is the Touchscreen Worth It?
MacBook Pro PROLED XDR Reviews Are In: Is the Touchscreen Worth It?
2 days ago