Xc, Xr or 9 — What Will Apple’s Mid-Range iPhone Be Called?

Iphone 9 Iphone Xr Iphone Xc Credit: EverythingApplePro
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We’re just days away from Apple’s fall iPhone event — and we still don’t know what the company’s most interesting device will be called.

A series of reputable reports have suggested that the two premium OLED models, an iPhone X successor and a larger 6.5-inch device, will be called the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max (or Plus). But the rumored moniker for Apple’s 6.1-inch LCD iPhone is still up in the air.

Adding to the confusion is a series of recent leaks that all, basically, suggest different names for Apple’s mid-range handset.

iPhone Xc

On Sunday, an image of an alleged China Mobile internal presentation surfaced on Weibo. The slide, first spotted by Japanese blog MacOtakara, suggests that the LCD iPhone will be dubbed the “iPhone XC.”

Iphone Xc Weibo
Weibo

(It’s also worth noting that the slide refers to the larger 6.5-inch OLED model as the iPhone XS “Plus,” rather than “Max.” But that’s another topic.)

The last time Apple used the “c” moniker for a smartphone was, of course, for the iPhone 5c back in 2013.

But there are a few things that do line up. The iPhone 5c and the upcoming 6.1-inch LCD iPhone are both budget-friendly devices with lower specifications than their flagship stablemates. The LCD iPhone is also expected to debut in bold new color options, echoing the iPhone 5c lineup.

Naming a lower-spec device the iPhone Xc would make sense and would remain consistent with Apple’s previous monikers, as iDrop News predicted back in December.

Similar China Mobile leaks that were published on Weibo have also been accurate in the past. And, notably, the Chinese pricing included in the internal slide matches up almost exactly with analyst predictions about Apple’s 2018 iPhone price strategy.

iPhone XR

Contradicting the leaked Weibo image is a Monday report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, an Apple journalist with a solid track record of accurate information.

Gurman, citing sources familiar with Apple’s internal plans, suggested that the company has at least considered dubbing the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone the “iPhone XR.”

It’s not clear what “Xr” could stand for, as Apple has never used that moniker in the past. Similarly, we haven’t seen any other rumors in the past that mentioned the iPhone XR name.

But, with rumors of Plus being ditched in favor of Max, Apple could certainly be set to shake up its naming schemes this year.

Of course, Bloomberg reports that Apple has “considered” naming the device the iPhone XR. That means it could have been an early moniker or a placeholder name.

iPhone 9

Lastly, there’s the iPhone 9 moniker. While maybe the most boring, this name also seems like a safe choice — as many analysts and media outlets have taken to calling the LCD handset the iPhone 9 for months.

It may also have been the least likely moniker, if it weren’t for yet another report that casts doubt on other naming schemes.

Iphone 9 Slashleaks
SlashLeaks

As first spotted by The Apple Post, a fairly convincing image of Apple’s storefront depicts the 6.1-inch LCD device being called the “iPhone 9.” Presumably, the images were the result of a storefront glitch or internal leak.

The image appeared on SlashLeaks, and while The Apple Post hasn’t been able to independently its authenticity, the device in the image does line up with previous reports about its design and specs.

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]

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