Apple might introduce simpler branding for its phones according to an analyst from Guggenheim. In an investor note, Robert Cihra from the analyst company says Apple will use the upcoming cycle to change the iPhone naming pattern. This would happen only to the successors of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus - the flagship would keep its X suffix to denote its standing. Will the iPhone follow the iPad? Making a change in naming is not something new at Cupertino. Apple has been playing with The New iPad and numbers for its tablets, which in the long run has delivered more confusion...
Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_simplify_iphone_name_future-news-30726.php