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KGI makes unlikely claim that Apple will launch iPhones in August, on sale in September

In what seems an unlikely idea, a research note from KGI’s Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that Apple could first show this year’s iPhone models in August, before making them available for sale in September, reports The China Post.

Kuo said that Apple is expected to unveil the next iPhones in August, a month earlier than the market had widely anticipated. The new devices are expected to hit store shelves in September.

While Kuo has a good track-record at forecasting what Apple is planning, his record on when things will happen is less reliable, so we view this prediction with caution … 

The China Post report says that the phones would be available in-store in September, leaving a theoretical possibility that Apple could begin with online sales in August, but this would seem even less likely. Retail head Angela Ahdrendts has previously told staff that the “completely new approach” of an online-only sales period was specifically for the watch (and in part the new MacBook due to supply).

Are we going to launch every product this way from now on? No. We all love those blockbuster Apple product launch days—and there will be many more to come.

The research note also repeats predictions made previously by Kuo that the new models will get Force Touch screens as per the Apple Watch, and will not include a new 4-inch model. Kuo’s earlier note also suggested an additional rose gold color option to match the Apple Watch Edition, a 12MP camera, an additional microphone to improve voice quality, a RAM boost to 2GB, stronger casing and improved Touch ID.

Kuo also referred to support for new gestures, something that would have to be supported by an upgrade to iOS.

Foxconn is expected to secure 60-70% of orders, and to be the sole supplier for the long-rumored iPad Pro, which he says is likely to launch in the final quarter. If so, an iPad event in October would be the obvious time.

The last product Apple launched during August was a Mac Pro refresh back in 2010.

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Comments

  1. What could they improve on Touch ID? I would hope battery life would increase. Either way I’m not upgrading from my iPhone 6 until whatever phone comes out in 2016 that I deem the best, Apple or Android.

    • Ben Lovejoy - 10 years ago

      Faster/more reliable registration.

      • rnc - 10 years ago

        It works 100% of the time for me, and it’s as fast as clicking the button…

        Don’t see

      • jimgramze - 10 years ago

        My Touch ID works lightening fast and reliable every time. My wife’s is not so good due to her fingerprints normally being worn off — she must slide her fingertips on things or she is safecracking on the side applying sandpaper to sensitize the fingertips.

    • davidt4n - 10 years ago

      sometimes I find that the touch id would be less sensitive towards a sweaty fingers and its responsiveness can be improved. also, my 6+ home button like started to be loose.

      • OneOkami (@OneOkami) - 10 years ago

        It’s definitely prone to failure on sweaty fingers. I’ve experienced that several times across two different iPhones.

      • jedimindtrick99 - 10 years ago

        I concure

    • iphone6splus - 10 years ago

      Force Touch buttonless home button.

      • jedimindtrick99 - 10 years ago

        I liked that idea, could be the differences between 6/6+~6S/6S+, like 5 &5S

    • srgmac - 10 years ago

      They could integrate the TouchID sensor into the display itself. I’m not saying that’s what the improvement will be — it actually probably won’t be anything else besides some method to more accurately recognize prints; but TouchID built into the display would be a huge improvement…

  2. Jeff Colvin (@jeffcolv) - 10 years ago

    Honestly, I setup a few entries for each of my fingerprints, and it has never failed me

  3. bunim1 - 10 years ago

    Apple will never add two gigs of RAM, & a 12 megapixel camera & force touch & better touch ID in one season

    • myke2241 - 10 years ago

      Never say never as you don’t work at Apple and don’t know the inner workings or what the future plans are. Anything is possible and nothing is off the table. we know nothing and can only guess at best.

    • rnc - 10 years ago

      The oracle has spoken…

  4. irelandjnr - 10 years ago

    The first two letters in KGI are KG

  5. Michael Santti - 10 years ago

    iPhone announcment say Aug. 25th and available on Sept. 4.

    3 weeks earlier than lat year.

  6. Brandon (@brandonlp) - 10 years ago

    I think the sites that have reported on this are overthinking it. Labor Day falls on September 7th, which makes that a tough week to do an announcement event. This is the latest that Labor Day has fallen since iPhone announcements moved to the fall.

    A likely scenario is a Monday, August 31 event and a typical 10-days-later (or maybe a not typical bit longer than that to keep the release mid-September) release.

  7. jedimindtrick99 - 10 years ago

    Makes me believe iPhone 7 is on task in development, it’s about the bigger picture in the product timeline

  8. srgmac - 10 years ago

    Hopefully they fix the bending issue…it would seem so since they mention stronger casing…I doubt Apple will actually come out and say that also, but one would hope that they fix it.

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Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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