“Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the world’s largest contract electronics maker, is expected to secure 60 percent-70 percent of the orders placed by Apple Inc. to assemble the next generation of the iPhone, an analyst said Wednesday,” China News Agency reports. “Kuo Ming-chi, an analyst with Taipei-based KGI Securities, said that as Hon Hai boasts a higher yield rate in assembling the iPhone, the Taiwanese manufacturer is expected to secure the majority of the orders from Apple. Kuo said that Apple is expected to unveil the next iPhones in August, a month earlier than the market had widely anticipated.”
“Kuo expected that the next generation of iPhones will be a 4.7-inch model and a 5.5-inch model like their two predecessors — the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus — adding that shipments of the 4.7-inch model are expected to account for about 66 percent of the total with the larger model accounting for the remainder,” CNA reports. “The analyst said that the new iPhones will adopt force touch technology, which allows the user to use a forceful push as a separate input method from a tap… In a research note, Kuo said the force touch technology ‘can enrich user experience due to more input methods and support of handwritten signatures, which is beneficial for expanding the commercial market.'”
“In addition to assembling the new iPhones, Kuo said that Hon Hai is expected to serve as the sole assembler of the next generation of the iPad, which will be equipped with a 12.9-inch panel,” CNA reports. “Apple is likely to launch the new iPad in the fourth quarter of this year.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Regarding the claim of an August iPhone unveiling: Unlikely. (Too many people on vacation, slow media coverage, etc. It just doesn’t make marketing sense.)
As for the Force Touch claim: Highly likely. Apple should have the goals of getting Touch ID and Force Touch on every device they ship ASAP. And, we do hope to see an “iPad Pro” in time for Christmas.
Related article:
Apple’s next-gen iPhones could launch as early as August – May 20, 2015
Apple needs to start the iPhone cycle sooner in the year so that its production ramp-up catches up fully before xmas shopping is over. Announcing it late Aug for shipping in early Sept would be better than shipping in Oct.
Agreed. It would make sense for Apple to begin shifting its iPhone refresh cycle to late summer.
But, but, that would require all the analysts to return early from the Hampton’s. Perish the thought.
All companies, Apple included, that serve the education market reveal new or improved products in late August or early September, in conjunction with the new school year. All companies, Apple included, that serve the Christmas gift market reveal new or improved products in late September or early October. It ALWAYS happens every year.
I’ve never understood the practice of bringing out devices intended for the education market AFTER the budget money for schools has been allocated. August or September is too late! Am I missing something?
I can point to other companies who bring out their school market products in June or July, which makes total sense to me.
Would people being away and slow media coverage really make any difference to Apple? They struggle to keep up with demand initially anyway, and they hardly need the hype. It may even be a good thing as when the media coverage picks up again they’ll get an extra boost or something.
Yep. Time of year means nothing to Apple. When EVER Apple talks, people WILL listen.
iPad Pro for Christmas? I’m not sure that’s the market for a big ass iPad. But we’ll see how it goes.
I will buy one if they will sell one. Well after i take a look at the Apple Store and see if it is too unwieldy but I suspect not. Something tells me the display would be pretty close to edge to edge to keep the size down.