Sometimes it pays off to avoid being first.
When it comes to Apple’s newest iPhone, these phones will have one omission and a significant one. Later this year these phones will be released without 5G technology.
But, when the 5G network will become widely available in 2020, at the earliest, Apple may have an iPhone ready.
And Apple hasn’t even launched their 2019 phones yet, but that hasn’t stopped the alleged statements about what the company might be planning for the next year.
Ming-Chi Kuo, an Apple analyst, predicts the company will unveil three 5G phones next year.
Maybe this is the new formula of Apple about beating the competition which consists of cheaper Android phones that support 5G technology.
The reasons for this change of strategy are:
- Apple usually isn’t the first company when it comes to mobile trends. Instead, they prefer to perfect emerging technology before committing to it. For example, Apple was behind its competitors in making phones with 3G and 4G LTE connectivity when the networks were just launched.
- Apple interrupted the cooperation with the leading 5G modem provider, Qualcomm, because of a dispute over Qualcomm’s licensing fees. The two companies settled their litigation in April and then agreed to a multiyear 5G chip deal. This led to Apple’s previous partner of 5G modems, Intel; to ultimately exit the 5G phone modem business altogether and Apple later acquired Intel’s smartphone modem business for $1 billion.
Apple is still working with Qualcomm, but this cooperation started too late to launch a 5G phone this year.
By now, we know the following information on the launching of the 2020 iPhone.
- It will likely include 5G chips with Qualcomm and Samsung
- It may have Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into its screen
- It will reportedly have an upgraded 3D camera for augmented reality
- Apple may cut the 5.8-inch size from the 2020 lineup