Apple can be unpredictable at times when it comes to its flagship iPhone brand. The Cupertino-based tech giant surprised everyone with the unveiling of the iPhone X last September, completely shaking off the traditional iPhone image, ten years after it was first launched. It would be interesting to see how Apple can top its current creation, and according to rumors, the 2018 iPhone XI flagship will feature aesthetic improvements over its predecessor.

While the iPhone X impressed the public with its cutting-edge 3D facial recognition technology, some users could not help but notice the notch on the top portion of the display. The iPhone X is the first in Apple's smartphone series to sport an all-screen display with almost non-existent thin bezels, but the notch makes the over-all design as awkward rather than sleek. With this, there are demands for the next iPhone model to get rid of this notch feature, and it looks like Apple will follow accordingly if the company wants the iPhone XI to leave a mark. Once the notch is gone, the iPhone XI can be truly advertised as a smartphone with full view display.

Another thing that many users would no longer like to see in the iPhone XI is the camera bump at the rear. The iPhone X delivers an impressive camera performance with its new TrueDepth feature, although it appears that the handset's classic appearance was compromised by adding a thick dual camera module. Knowing Apple's record in the past, it will figure out a way to present an aesthetically pleasing device with a light build, even as the phone is packed with high-performance core hardware.

Apparently, it is not only the specs of the iPhone X successor that is up for debate. Tech experts remain divided regarding the next name of the Apple flagship. According to Value Walk, it does not seem likely that the 2018 premium device will be called as iPhone 9, knowing that the number has already been skipped with the arrival of iPhone X, read as "iPhone 10." For now, it is believed that the company will launch at least three new iPhone models next year, with one of them being the high-end iPhone XI flagship. 

Apple has yet to mention its next iPhone offering in 2018, but based on the previous iPhone launching, the iPhone XI is likely to be showcased at a special Apple keynote event in September.