Apple to Launch Three 5G iPhones in 2020 [Report]

All three of the iPhones Apple is expected to launch in 2020 will be equipped with a 5G modem, according to a new report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Previously Kuo expected only two models to support 5G; however, he now believes that all three iPhones will get 5G to better compete with lower-cost Android smartphones that support the technology.

We now believe that all three new 2H20 iPhone models will support 5G for the following reasons. (1) Apple has more resource for developing the 5G iPhone after the acquisition of Intel baseband business. (2) We expect that the prices of 5G Android smartphones will decline to $249-349 USD in 2H20. We believe that 5G Android smartphones, which will be sold at $249-349 USD, will only support Sub-6GHz. But the key is that consumers will think that 5G is the necessary function in 2H20. Therefore, iPhone models which will be sold at higher prices have to support 5G for winning more subsidies from mobile operators and consumers' purchase intention. (3) Boosting 5G developments could benefit Apple's AR ecosystem.


Kuo suggests Apple may launch a 5G iPhone which only supports Sub-6GHz for certain markets. This could allow for a lower price.

Apple may have the intention to launch the 5G iPhone, which only supports Sub-6GHz, to gain market share by lowering the cost/price for markets which only support Sub-6GHz (e.g., Chinese market). However, 5G iPhone, which only supports Sub-6GHz and the version which supports mmWave & Sub-6GHz are regarded as different projects even though they share the same form factor design.

All three new iPhone models for the American market are expected to support Sub-6GHz and the faster mmWave spectrum. The smartphones will use a modem chip from Qualcomm. Apple recently announced the acquisition of Intel's smartphone modem business but we won't see an Apple 5G modem chip until at least 2021.

Last month Kuo predicted that Apple is planning to release new 5.4-inch and 6.7-inch iPhones in 2020; as well as, a new 6.1-inch OLED iPhone. More details here. This year's new models are likely to keep the current design with processor and camera improvements.


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[via MacRumors]