Artwork by shoplemonde.de
A special Top 11 list today from noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo on the next iPhone (6s? 7?) that will be released later this year. Counting down:
- Force Touch will be the biggest upgraded selling point, but also one of the main bottlenecks of the supply chain. Force Touch can enrich user experience due to more input methods and support of handwritten signatures, which is beneficial for expanding in the commercial market
- Screen will remain at 4.7 and 5.5 inches, with resolution the same as existing models. There will be no new 4-inch model
- There will be an additional casing color, rose gold, matching the rose-gold Apple Watch Edition
- The camera will have a pixel upgrade, likely to 12MP
- One microphone will be added near the speaker to enhance voice quality
- The A9 processor with upgraded 2GB LPDDR4 will be adopted
- The bending issue will be improved by using different casing materials and internal mechanical design changes
- If drop test issues can be resolved, the 5.5-inch model will have a limited number of units with sapphire cover lens
- The recognition rate of Touch ID will be improved further in a bid to promote Apple Pay
- Gesture control support
- It’s expected that mass production will start in mid-to-late August. Total shipments will be 80-90mn in 2015, with a 2:1 ratio of 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models.
Some thoughts:
It is interesting that drop tests are what’s limiting sapphire and not GT Advanced production issues we saw last year. Also, Force Touch and gesture support would need to be an OS level upgrade. Will Apple reveal these features (on purpose or accidentally) with iOS 9 in June or wait for a point upgrade in the September timeframe when iPhone and eventually iPad hardware is expected.
As for Rose Gold, it will be interesting to see if Apple is bringing its “Edition” high end line to iPhones along with its premium prices. I hope not.
The 2GB of RAM is a given because the iPad Air 2 had 2GB of RAM. DDR4 is fast. Samsung and LG both released smartphones with amazing cameras this year already. It will be interesting to see how Apple’s 12MP version compares.
Artwork by<a href="http://www.shoplemonde.de" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> shoplemonde.de</a>
We’re still a long way away but it seems like we may have an interesting September.
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What do you mean Seth exactly by saying the limited number of 5.5″ models will have sapphire crystal cover? Is it going to have sapphire crystal screen front cover or is there going to be something else?
The screen.
The home button and camera lens are already sapphire.
Given that his comment is still confusing. I think what he meant to say is the larger may have a sapphire display which may limit the initial supply of the 5.5 model.
Hey irelandjnr, i’m going to ask just because i’m curious. Is it my comment that confuses your mind? And if it is, what part of it makes you confused?
I don’t think that the majority of iPhone 6/6plus users will be pushing to upgrade this time. The main reason for the last upgrade was down to the fact that the iPhone finally came in the right sizes! I’m sure a lot of people would agree that’s why they upgraded.
The old iPhone 5 now felt like a child’s toy when I picked it up from a friend the other day.
Nothing major in this refresh to get me interested, if this is indeed a good indicator of final spec. I would imagine it is along the right lines though, Apple are now becoming well averse to announcing small improvements that can already be seen in their other products like the force touch and maybe even a sapphire crystal display.
I’d agree. Those who typically upgrade every year will likely continue to do so. I’ll be keeping my 6 Plus until the next cycle unless I’m really blown away by this year’s iteration.
But according to many reports, and Tim Cook himself in the last earnings call, a large portion of 6/6 Plus buyers were Android switchers and first-timers. This means there’s likely to be lots of pent up demand from 4/4S and 5/5s/5c users who are due for an upgrade.
Camera is one main important thing for me. Force Touch and 2GB ram will definitely make me wanna upgrade my iPhone 6+. Two things that I currently hate with the iPhone, Safari reloads and lack of file storage system, not being able to attach most files especially when sending emails is one big annoyance. So with bigger ram, 1 problem can be solved.
Those are OS feature requests. Both features you suggest (Safari reloads and the lack of a user-accessible file system) have nothing to do with RAM size.
Perhaps it’s not a RAM issue in this case but saying an app reloading has nothing to do with RAM is a bit naive.
Meanwhile, these upgrades are what will push this long time Android evangelist to purchase an iPhone. I’ve been severely disenchanted with Android since the introduction of Lollipop, but since I just got a Nexus 5 in October I’ve been reluctant to get an iPhone 6 knowing there will be a refresh again in September.
The “fact” that these new models will have 2 GB of RAM and the likelihood that iOS 9 will be a maintenance release has me excited to make the switch.
I thought 4.7″ would be awesome, but after using for 6 months I hate it. I’d switch back to a 4″ phone in a heartbeat if Apple offered a modern one. (I like the speed and camera on the 6, I’ll give it that).
I know there aren’t too many of us out there, but 4″ was the perfect size for me.
I think offering a 4″ version would be way more welcomed than them offering a rose gold option, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.
I want a smaller iPhone as well. If that means the screen gets smaller than the current 4.7″ so be it. The phone itself is just too large for my taste. But looking at the sales numbers I don’t think Apple is even considering a 4″ screen. Which is quite stupid; a company being this much focused on details cannot see this wish for a smaller FF.
Yep, that’s why I upgraded. Not seeing much need to upgrade in the next year or two, especially since I’m now buying my devices outright.
Most of what I want to see are software related – namely I want the iPhone to replace my wallet (completely). I know this is what Apple Pay and Passbook are supposed to do but my bank doesn’t yet offer Apple Pay and Passbook has been a huge disappointment (IMO). Also excited about home automation possibilities but the offerings now seem to be lacking.
I got sick of the 5 being so small. Thus, I got the 6 plus. There is no need to upgrade. I have the one that is, I believe 128 gigs. So, I have plenty of space. The camera looks fine. I can play the games I want. Time for my iPhone to get some real use and be worth the price I paid. Though, I turned in my 5 and actually got like $250 or $300 for it. haha I don’t think i paid that much. Still though. I am going to keep the phone I have.
1. Force Touch: Bring it on! (hopefully it works globally like on Apple Watch for advanced options, unlike the MacBook where the touch location matters)
3. Why make a rose gold option to match the Apple Watch if the existing champaign gold option (also found in iPad, MacBook) is radically different from the yellow gold Apple Watch?
5. Another microphone? That would be 4 in total. Kind of hard to imagine.
8. The lens already has a sapphire cover.
“1. Force Touch: Bring it on! (hopefully it works globally like on Apple Watch for advanced options, unlike the MacBook where the touch location matters)”
what????? Sorry but I think that would be tossing out so much potential. With all these huge phones, there is plenty of space to do gestures and to add buttons for more functionality without sacrificing a killer feature like force touch to effectively make the screen one giant hardware button.
Force touch in iOS has way more potential as implemented like mac os. You could have pressure sensing buttons to adjust audio and video playback speeds. Add pressure sensitive + and – buttons to quickly zoom in and out of maps with one hand. More expressive creative tools like garage band and drawing apps! All sorts of uses in games! This doesn’t mean there would be no additional features but more specific ones. Like activating actions on a single list item or word more quickly.
The only reason why it works that way on the watch is because the screen is just too tiny and the device is already limited. How it’s used in OS X is the showcase of where interaction design could go with this.
Potential: sure. But I hate the way it’s implemented on OSX. The interaction design gets too complicated. There now is a tap, a secondary click, a double click, a three finger tap and now even a force touch, each having different capabilities.
I love how, om the watch, the screen is as clean as possible. Force touch consistently brings up missing functionality like “new message” or changing sort order/view.
That’s not needed on iOS: there’s enough room on the navbar and the toolbar (bottom of screen) to place all main functionality up front. Long tap on an item for extra features/shortcuts. What problem of this interaction model would force touch solve?
How about this bold idea: the top and bottom bezels of the screen (which have always been equally thick for good reason) could become as thin as the side bezels on the iPhone 7, while the whole screen acts as a force touch homebutton with a taptic engine for feedback. Double click for app switcher, long click for Siri.
Your confusing speakers with microphones. Speakers output audio, microphones input audio.
*typo (fuck this shitty wordpress comment system; disqus if 1000 times better)
*is
This comment system is the worst. I’m so sick of it. It’s not even worth commenting if you don’t have a wordpress account. this shit keeps logging me out of the twitter app so I have to “approve” it each time. Not to mention there is no way to keep track of replies. At least mac rumors has forum style comments….
If there will be two shades of gold, then they should carry that idea over to the other two colors.
I’m thinking like a silver option, and a “frost option (idk…)
But more importantly, space grey and fricken SLATE BLACK. bring it back!
Why not 900 colour options? Haha
I always buy the “S” versions; their lack of “ZOMG, is that the new iPhone?” because of a new design is worth much less than the added value I get from having internal upgrades. Like the iPhone 5S, with the 64 bit processor and Touch ID.
If this list of improvements turns out to be true, I will definitely buy the iPhone 6S. I will get the full impact of those and the already pretty impressive improvements from the iPhone 6. One of the most important added value will be the ability to record video. With the 128 GB RAM, camera upgrades from both phones and extra battery life (when compared to my iPhone 5S), video recording now seems not only doable but in fact convenient and easy, even to me!
I am looking forward to that.
A wise choice. I got stuck on the regular upgrade cycle. Can’t afford to upgrade early and have a hard time skipping 2 generations. My brother always buys the “s” versions.
Trade up.
I think either way you benefit a lot by waiting two years to upgrade. It’s not like going from a 4 to a 5 or a 5 to a 6 didn’t bring “added value” from internal upgrades. “S” cycle upgrades are nice, but you get massive improvements by waiting two years no matter what cycle you are on. I like having the new form factor as soon as it comes out.
“I always buy the “S” versions; their lack of “ZOMG, is that the new iPhone?” because of a new design is worth much less than the added value I get from having internal upgrades”
So you don’t think the ‘non-S’ versions have any ‘internal upgrades’? Wow. Just wow.
Still debating on bumping up to a plus size.
I was on the fence, but I pulled the trigger and got one. It takes a little time getting used to the size, but you get used to it after a few weeks. At least that’s how long it took me. I’m just waiting for Mobee to release their 6+ induction battery cases.
Gesture control?
I seriously doubt it. The more I hear about that the more I start mistaking the iPhone for the Galaxy S4.
iPad-like gestures on the + model. It’s not too hard to imagine at all.
“gestures” is pretty vague. I was imagining wavy hand in the air stuff. But yes, the multitasking 4 finger gestures would be nice on the larger screened phones.
No wireless charging … I expect to see it too …
Not for a few years. It’s not quite there yet. They had no choice for the watch.
Wireless charging is garbage for a phone, until it can be truly free as in not needing to place it on something.
Facts about wireless charging:
Slower than wired.
Cannot comfortably use the device while it is charging.
Still has a cord plugged into the wall.
Still have to physically place the device in a certain spot.
As you can see, this is why Apple would never do wireless charging until it is over the air. The only reasons why the watch is inductively charged are for water resistance, space, and because it is inherently a device which isn’t used while it is charging. It’s either on your wrist, in which case it wouldn’t be charging, or its off your wrist, in which case you either wouldn’t be using it, or you’d be charging it.
“no new 4-inch model”
I have a really hard time believing this. The 5c with 5s intervals will be fine I guess, but I would really rather a new model.
When will they upgrade the base model to 32 GB of storage seems like it’s long overdue.
#7 Bending issue? Really? That was an internet hoax. I have an iPhone 6 and it is completely flat 6 months later. Could we stop spreading this nonsense?
Well…this will be really easy, then, won’t it? If it is a “hoax”, and “nonsense”, then Apple would have no reason to change the design of the 6 chassis. Because changing means tooling costs, which Apple absolutely wouldn’t want to have to do for a hoax, or nonsense.
But! If Apple DOES change the chassis, and reinforces that pivot point, in spite of the cost, then what does that say?
It would say you were wrong.
So, let’s see what September brings, shall we? I’m betting we see a change, because I’m engineer and I know that the 6 chassis design is inadequate. Not sure what your qualifications are, but empirical observations don’t build bridges.
In regard to colour options I really hope the gold and rose gold receive black trims (If they can’t solve the antennae issues and go for a full aluminium enclosure) and black screens, aesthetically I think that is more pleasing than the white trim and white screen option available now and other designers like Tom Dixon and his ilk seem to have a lot of success using gold and rose gold/copper colours together with black details in their designs without it looking tacky.
I hope they don’t start using real gold within the enclosure materials on the iPhone… that seems rather unnecessary for a product with a +/-2 year product update cycle.
Looking forward to a camera spec bump too and I hope the acquisitions involving this show up in the next model.
I think the display type needs an upgrade to AMOLED and sapphire covers… I saw the Apple Watch display and that seems to really work well and pop in regard to contrasts and might offer slight battery and experience improvements to the iPhone line. Also eventually it’ll be great to see a screen ppi increase to both models but I guess if it drains the battery or decreases performance overall then stick to the current spec and wait till the next major update.
In regard to the iPhone Plus, I still think as a mobile phone it’s way still way too big and needs some trimming down at the top and bottom but that is more of a technical challenge in regard to fitting or hidingTouch ID and the speaker and camera module in there. I might finally upgrade from my iPhone 5S to a 6S+/7+as I love the idea of a longer lasting battery and OIS within the camera… just not sure where to put it on my person, you wouldn’t want to smuggle that into prison is all I’m saying.
It’s unacceptable this year may not feature waterproof since iPhone camera is exceptional.
Yeah it’s about time Apple got on board with that… at the very least they should aim for the same water performance as the Apple Watch. Under promise and over deliver to surprise and delight customers.
I don’t know about unacceptable, but yes it would be a welcome addition. Don’t bank of it coming the iPhone for a few years though. They make a lot of money of those spills people have. are no angels.
I appreciate Seth’s optimism on the 2GB of RAM, but I think we might see it only on the 6+. Which would be unfortunate; from what I’ve seen, the 6+ definitely needs it. If Apple focuses a little on iOS 9’s memory footprint, they could slide by another year. Would be a terrible disservice to users, but they’ve stuck to 8/16GB storage for far longer than they should have (and be able to sleep well at night, not thinking they screwed their users). But the 6+ definitely needs a bit more RAM. I think a key part will be whether iOS 9 goes 64-bit only or not; if it goes 64-bit only, then all the iPhones will likely have 2GB.
But the one thing Kuo doesn’t mention that I’d REALLY like to see is wireless charging. Phil Schiller’s moronic comments aside, now that Apple has stepped into the wireless charging world with the Apple Watch—specifically the chipset is Qi even if Apple isn’t “officially” using it—it is a technology that’s time has come for the iPhone I think. Car companies especially would benefit from the level of standardization that Apple would bring by adopting, putting magnetic charging surfaces in dashboards and armrests/consoles.
I accidentally liked your post instead or hitting reply. The RAM is part of the SoC and both devices will get the same SoC. 2GB RAM will come to both, I think that’s realistic not optimistic.
Wireless charging is idiotic due to the reasons Phil said. If you don’t understand why it works for the watch and not the phone, there’s no convincing you.
If the new iPhones will have all these features, I will upgrade at release date. I already tested the 6 and 6 Plus in the apple store nearby me but didn’t bought one. But this year my 5S will be definitely replaced.
camera will have a pixel upgrade, likely to 12MP it is nice sound cause the The main priority of the smartphone is the camera and the memory, great article thanks …
What about optical video image stabilisation on the regular 6s model?
Not worth upgrading to. Force touch seems pretty pointless to me. I would like to see wireless charging and wireless EarPods. That rose gold also looks disgusting.
“wireless EarPods.”
yes. But I figure they will wait for BLE 4.2 chip availability. I think this fall is reasonable to see it in new phones and maybe a wireless variant of the EarPods.
Wireless charging is currently useless except for a smartwatch. Wireless EarPods NEED to happen SOON! I can’t stand not having them for my watch. I refuse to buy expensive headphones that aren’t Apple designed. I’ve seen the patent they have for them, they look great, they’re just the same design except a wire connects them together, and in the middle is the mic/volume module, which is exactly where it belongs..in the center, under your chin. I can’t tell you how much faster you could grab the module if it were under your chin, in the center. The place it is now, you basically have to search for it every time.
Actually wireless charging would be good for the EarPods too.
It’s 2015. We shouldn’t need cables to connect to devices. Progress and innovation is slow.
Um good luck making wireless charging mass marketable in tiny devices before 2018. Wires for charging are needed right now. Apparently you think 2015 means there should be things that aren’t feasible yet. I think 2020 should mean flying cars.
Placing your phone on a specific spot to charge is 100% (pun intended) idiotic. You CANT use it then. I like to charge my phone whilst holding it comfortably in my hand and laying in bed. Good luck doing that with your charging pad.
Given Apple’s historical emphasis on photos and video, I would expect more changes to the iphone screen and camera. The time is ripe for Apple to have wide gamut, HDR, and 4K recording from the camera, plus a phone screen that can show off wide gamut and HDR. Other manufacturers are trickling these in, but not getting critical mass the way Apple could in moving the market.
As much as I want some crazy new features and a whole new iPhone experience, this report is probably EXACTLY what’s going to happen. Not saying Apple can’t innovate anymore but if they are sticking to their normal 4s 5s schedule then the 6s isn’t going to be anything crazy. But one more thing, iPhone 6Plus (S)? Not the best name.
It’s a computer with glass and metal in your hand. It’s not going to fly you off to neverland. What you can expect from it in the future is augmented reality through the camera, precise haptic, pinpointed to certain places on the glass, camera upgrades, speed upgrades, storage upgrades, display upgrades, bezel reduction, thinner, lighter, eventually wireless charging (the useful over the air kind).
Personally, I need a screen with drop protection more than I need one with scratch protection. My iPhone 6’s Ion X glass hasn’t scratched or shattered – and it’s been through many drops. Ion X is light too, as well has having a better display quality. I don’t need sapphire until they can make it a better product than Ion X all around.
If Apple adds Force Touch I hope it is added in such a way that it’s seamless, intuitive and strengthens the OS as a whole. Unlike the implementation of Force Touch in the MacBook thrown in, patched onto of the OS and has no intuitive functions.
You haven’t seen what it can do in OSX 10.11
Force Touch would be very cool on the iPhone, can’t wait for it. I wonder if we will see something in the battery department? Been hoping / patiently waiting for Apple to innovate in this area for some time now.
I switched from Android back to iPhone (previously had an iPhone 4) primarily because Apple finally got with the program and released a phone with a nice-sized screen. I’m mostly pleased with my iPhone 6 and won’t be upgrading it until early 2016; however, when I think about new features in the next phone the most important is increased battery life. The phone doesn’t need to be thinner or have a better screen. The battery life needs to improve, especially now that the Watch is available. My Watch doesn’t consume that much of my iPhone’s battery life as of right now, but I haven’t been using the Watch as often as I will once more apps are released for it. I purposely turned off location on some apps to conserve battery on my phone.
With all of that being said, the most important thing is a successful and appropriate release of the next iPhone. The Watch and Macbook releases were hugely flawed and left a bad taste in many peoples’ mouths. Although I was able to get my Watch on release day, I would have preferred to buy it in store and I actually feel bad for people who are still waiting. It’s ridiculous. Whatever supply issues that may be a possiblility, Apple needs to plan for that ahead of time. There needs to be enough iPhones of both sizes and all colors for everyone to buy within a reasonable time of release. If mass production is starting in August, don’t set the release date until mid to late October or even early November. As long as they release it before the Thanksgiving.