Apple might launch four iPhones this year, including one with a large OLED display

Apple iPhone SE 2 is expected to launch in May or June this year.

Apple may retain OLED panel for one of its iPhones to be launched later this year. (REUTERS)

Even as we are months away from the launch of new iPhones, details about the upcoming iPhones keep coming in. Unconfirmed reports now say that Apple plans to launch as many as four iPhones this year.

According to a report in Digitimes, Apple will be launching two iPhones with LCD panel and two with OLED panels.

The report claims that iPhones with LCD panels will come with 5.7-inch or 5.8-inch screen size and a larger 6-inch or 6.1-inch display. As far as the OLED models go, they might range between 6-inch and 6.5-inch screen size.

Apple, however, might stick to two LCD iPhones and one OLED iPhone, just like the 2017 lineup, the report added. The report further says that all four models will come with wireless charging and 3D sensing functionalities.

OLED panels

Pros

Apple currently uses OLED panels on its iPhone X, the smartphone that marks 10th anniversary of the iPhone. The OLED panel is a newer display technology that is believed to deliver better colour output and superior contrast ratio. In simpler words, OLED panels are supposed to provide vivid photos, which are closer to reality. OLED panels are energy efficient as well.

Rival Samsung has been using the technology on its flagship phones for a few years. RELATED: Apple iPhone X Review

Cons

But they aren't without drawbacks. One of the issues that OLED panels face is burn-in. What happens is that a certain colour hovers over the screen if an image with that colour scheme is left open for a longer period of time.

In fact, Apple has also acknowledged this problem.

"With extended long-term use, OLED displays can also show slight visual changes. This is also expected behaviour and can include 'image persistence' or 'burn-in', where the display shows a faint remnant of an image even after a new image appears on the screen," wrote Apple earlier this week.

"This can occur in more extreme cases such as when the same high contrast image is continuously displayed for prolonged periods of time. We've engineered the Super Retina display to be the best in the industry in reducing the effects of OLED 'burn-in'," it added.

"If you look at an OLED display off-angle, you might notice slight shifts in colour and hue. This is a characteristic of OLED and is normal behaviour."

iPhone SE 2

Apple is also being rumoured to be working on the second-generation of iPhone SE. According to the report, the smartphone dubbed as iPhone SE 2 will come with wireless charging functionality but will skip 3D sensing. The phone is expected to hit the mass production in the second quarter whereas the official launch is speculated to be sometime between May or June.