Is a bigger iPhone X coming in 2018?
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According to media reports, Apple is targeting three new phones for later this year. One of them, dubbed the "iPhone X Plus," could have a massive edge-to-edge 6.5-inch display.
If true, that would dwarf Apple’s first-gen 5.8-inch iPhone X, introduced in September of last year.
This would highlight one of the few shortcomings of the iPhone X, as there is just one iPhone X model in just one size. By comparison, previous iPhone models starting with the iPhone 6 have come in two sizes.
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Apple still does not offer anything that directly competes with Samsung's larger Galaxy smartphones, such as the 6.2-inch Galaxy S8+ or the 6.3-inch Galaxy Note 8.
Extra large X would be a welcome addition
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I stood dutifully in line for the iPhone X the day after the phone become available and have been using the phone every day since.
One thing I quickly noticed was that the iPhone X’s 5.8-inch display – Apple’s biggest diagonal measurement for a display to date – isn't actually that big. That's because the X is really just a taller version of Apple’s 4.7-inch iPhone 8. This is illustrated clearly by Apple on its Human Interface Guidelines page.
I also noticed that the 5.5-inch diameter screen on the 8 Plus is actually a wider format than the X’s. That often results in a better experience when watching videos.
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"The iPhone 8 Plus' screen does give you more real estate, because it has a more traditional and wider 16:9 aspect ratio, compared to 19.5:9 for the iPhone X," says Tom's Guide in a side-by-side comparison.
"That means everything from movies and web pages to even the keyboard looks noticeably bigger," the tech site added.
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Considering all of the great technology packed into the iPhone X, the wider format on the 8 Plus is a pretty small gripe. But it does leave an opening for Apple to bring out a larger version of the X that could better showcase the potential of the X's design.
Large-screen phones – with more real estate to accommodate more hardware – from Apple's rivals, have become platforms for parading the best technologies such as larger screens, better cameras and more RAM. So, a larger iPhone X would give Apple a platform to do the same.
It also might be worth waiting for if you didn’t shell out $1,000 for the first-gen iPhone X.
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Besides, it might be big enough to let me sideline my iPad Pro. After all, who needs an iPad if you have a screen that big?