A few months after the iPhone X launch last September, rumors have already begun to surface regarding its successor. The iPhone XI, or the iPhone X2 as some people would call it, is expected to follow the tracks of the 2017 flagship version. While the upcoming iPhone model will likely have all the impressive features of the iPhone X, recent reports suggest that the iPhone XI will only be a minor hardware refresh. Thus, the public cannot expect much changes from the handset.

According to Tech Radar, the latest updates coming to the iPhone XI this year are going to be minimal. The smartphone could have almost the same feel as the iPhone X, except for a few improvements on the design. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in his latest research notes that the biggest update that the users can expect from the iPhone XI is the increase in battery capacity. The iPhone X successor is said to use the latest L-shaped, two-cell battery, giving the smartphone up to 10% longer battery life.

Kuo also tipped that aside from the iPhone X follow-up, the Cupertino-based tech firm will launch two other iPhone models this year. The plus size version of the iPhone XI, unofficially called the iPhone XI Plus, will sport a 6.5-inch screen display. Like the iPhone X, both the iPhone XI and iPhone XI Plus are likely to receive an all-screen front panel with very minimal bezels and a notch area on the top display.

The iPhone XI Plus is expected to boast a bigger battery and random access memory (RAM) capacity, aside from an extended screen area. As per Kuo's notes, the handset will have at least 4 gigabytes (GB) of RAM and a battery ranging from 3,3000mAh to 3,400mAh. Another iPhone 2018 model, a 6.1-inch phone variant, is expected to be released along with the iPhone XI and iPhone XI Plus. The handset will also share some features with the iPhone X like the Face ID system, although it is slated to be a budget-friendly option.

Meanwhile, MacWorld UK reported that Apple is also set to unveil the successors of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus models in 2018. If this turns out to be correct, it will be the company's biggest year yet, launching at least 5 iPhone devices within a single year, not to mention the iPhone SE 2, which is also rumored to arrive very soon.