Correct me if I’m wrong, but I, in particular, have never seen such a high level of speculation about iPhones coming out almost a year from now as we are seeing now. And a large part of this very premature rumored machine is due solely to the work of the analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (from KGI Securities), which seems to have already put current iPhones aside to focus exclusively on next year’s models.
The analyst’s latest note to investors is the most revealing to date. According to Kuo, Apple will present three iPhone models next year: one with 5.8 inch OLED screen (therefore, an updated version of iPhone X, without many visual differences); another also with OLED, but with 6.5 inch screen (“IPhone X Plus”, perhaps?); and a third, with 6.1 inch LCD screen. The cat’s leap? This third one would also have the same borderless design, with cutout, TrueDepth camera and everything.
Kuo’s bet is clear: this 6.1-inch LCD model would be the «entry-level» model for iPhones next year, starting at $ 649- $ 749; its screen would have a lower resolution compared to that of OLED models (with a density of 320-330 pixels per inch, the analyst ventured) and the materials used in the construction of the device would be less refined – therefore, cheaper. He did not comment, however, whether the second generation of the iPhone X would have price reductions.
The forecast matches that previously made by Kuo, in which he said that all iPhone models next year would give up Touch ID. Incidentally, the analyst added, stating that next year’s line will be a really new “super-cycle” (year in which sales go up by a greater number of customers updating their devices) for the iPhone – according to its predictions will be 120 million units of the Apple smartphone shipped in the second half of 2018, against the predicted 80 million units in the second part of 2017.
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Turning a little to the current models, Kuo also released a note to investors talking about his expectations of production and sales of the iPhone X and iPhones 8.
According to the analyst, the most expensive of Apple’s smartphones would already be overcoming the problems in the pace of production that affected its availability in the first weeks of sales; production, he said, will be 35% to 45% higher this quarter and Apple is expected to sell around 23 million units during this holiday season.
On the other hand, the popularity of the iPhone X will, yes, affect the iPhones 8 and 8 Plus. According to the analyst, the production of the models will drop in 50% or 60% after the last quarter of 2017, due to a significant drop in demand – with that, Foxconn would be planning to convert its factory where the iPhones 8 are assembled into another assembly pole of the iPhone X, to help supply the demand for the model.
Considering that this is, apparently, the last year of the iPhone with the “traditional” design, with borders, the forecasts seem appropriate. Opinions?
via 9to5Mac, MacRumors
