【Nikki Nova Archives】

The Nikki Nova Archiveslatest rumor about Apple's 2018 iPhones is that the lineup will have the first iPhone models to support the Apple Pencil. The precise pricing is also coming into better focus.

TrendForce, a market analysis company, is reporting the rumored "budget" LCD iPhone will cost around $699 with Face ID. The more feature-filled OLED models will supposedly start at $999 with better displays and hardware.

This latest report reaffirms that this 6.1-inch LCD model will have an iPhone X-like design with a front-facing TrueDepth camera. It will also stick with two storage sizes that the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus offer: 64GB or 256GB. TrendForce says this model will be Apple's main phone for the masses and should help to compete with Android phones.

With the OLED iPhones, Apple wants to pack more features in for the higher price. Apple is seemingly taking a page from the Note 9 with a 512GB storage option as well as 64GB and 256GB models. Of course, the OLED iPhones (said to be 5.8- and 6.5-inch) will also have the TrueDepth camera for Face ID -- hopefully with a smaller notch. The larger OLED model will likely have dual-SIM card slots in select markets.

If you have been waiting for an iPhone to support the Apple Pencil, 2018 might be the year. Both OLED models should support it, but the Pencil, which is almost 7 inches long, might feel a little weird to use with the iPhone. (You'll also have to endure constant teases of, "Hey, Samsung!").

The new OLED phones would signal the end of the product cycle for 2017's iPhone X. Discontinuing the previous model would be a new strategy for Apple, as that model typically sticks around as a more affordable option.

For now, keep the bets placed on three iPhones for 2018; a 6.1-inch LCD, a 5.8-inch OLED, and a 6.5-inch OLED, all with Face ID. However, guessing the naming strategy is an entirely different story.