iPhone 7

Apple is ramping for its biggest iPhone sales success ever next year, according to KGI. Its estimates suggest that the new iPhones in 2017, expected to comprise three new models, will empower Apple growth with ‘unprecedented’ demand. KGI expects the new phones may sell between 120-150 million units in the second half of next year, eclipsing the previous sales record set by iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

The new form-factor premium OLED iPhone will likely encourage high-end customers to upgrade their device and the low-end new 4.7-inch iPhone model (with wireless charging and a glass chassis) will be attractive to the lower-end of the smartphone market.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple’s brand continues to dominate mindshare for the festive season, according to a survey by Piper Jaffray. The company holds the top two spots for most wanted gift this holiday season with both iPhone and MacBook far ahead of any other product category.

The iPhone was the clear leader, with 7.2 percent of people surveyed wanting a new iPhone, up from 5.2 percent in 2015. MacBook took second place on the chart (embedded after the jump), at 2.1% popularity …

Expand
Expanding
Close

Pad & Quill make some of our absolute favorite Apple accessories fit for the most special people in our lives.  Luckily, the company’s 15% off Black Friday Sale on all products site-wide is going on all weekend. Even better, we’re able to add coupon code“BF2016” or “PQ5” to bring the total discount to 20% sitewide. Additionally, new customers will see a $5 off pop-up to sign up for their newsletter.

The full grain leather bags, iPhone & iPad cases, MacBook Cases  and Apple Watch straps are all made by hand the old fashioned way, backed with their legendary quarter century warranty, and signed by the artisan…and packaged fit for a very special gift.

Our favorites include the Timberline wood cases and Little Pocket Book Wallet cases for iPhone starting at $28 after coupons, Contiga leather cases for iPad and Cartella Cases for MacBook/Airs. You really can’t go wrong.

This is the only weekend of the year Pad & Quill has discounts this big so…giddy up!

Expand
Expanding
Close

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI Securities, the 2017 iPhone will add wireless charging for the first time. Instead of plugging in a cable, iPhone 8 owners will be able to charge their batteries using an inductive pad similar to how the Apple Watch charges. Although many Android phones support wireless charging with plastic and metal chassis, the report says Apple’s switch to a glass casing for iPhone 8 will enable wireless charging at fast speeds with minimum disruption from frequency interference.

The report says that Apple may not bundle a wireless charger with every model — it may be limited to the more expensive, higher-capacity SKUs — but expects Apple to adopt wireless charging aggressively through 2018. Plans are up in the air at this point, of course, but buyers of the low-end models may find they have to buy an additional accessory if they want to charge their phone wirelessly.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Analysts are predicting that there is no end in sight to the decline in gross margin on the iPhone. Bernstein Research analysts (via Business Insider) are predicting that it will fall below 40% for the first time next year, and fall again to 39% in 2018. Other analysts agree.

A chart put together by the firm shows iPhone margins falling from 57.7% in 2009 to 40.8% this year, arguing that the costs of making next year’s iPhone and difficulty in charging more for it in a much more competitive environment will see it fall further over the next couple of years.

Morgan Stanley’s Katy Huberty, says that, ironically, the popularity of the iPhone 7 may have contributed to pressure on margins …

Expand
Expanding
Close

In this week’s top stories: MacBook Pro reviews, iOS 10.2 beta 3, iPhone 8 OLED reports, Apple’s new design book, and we go hands-on with the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar in this week’s top video…

Expand
Expanding
Close

There is a bit of confusion over what displays are supported via the new MacBook Pro’s Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports. If you don’t have a display that uses a Thunderbolt 3/USB-C port— like the new 4K and 5K LG displays being sold exclusively by Apple for the new MacBook Pros— then you’ll need an adapter to go from Thunderbolt 3 to whatever I/O your display has (DisplayPort, HDMI, Thunderbolt 2, etc). Something like Apple’s Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, for example. 

But here’s where some users have been confused and accidentally purchased the wrong adapter:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple has reportedly asked key iPhone manufacturer partners, namely Foxconn and Pegatron, to investigate ways to bring the iPhone assembly supply chain into the United States. Today, all iPhones (and almost all Apple products) are manufactured and assembled in China. The Nikkei report says Foxconn is actively researching ways to make iPhones in the US although Pegatron apparently refused Apple’s request over cost concerns. A source is quoted as saying that domestic production of iPhones means increasing costs by “more than double”.

Apple has received some criticism over the years for its dependence on Chinese manufacturing but the issue has come into the limelight recently as Donald Trump, now US President elect, claimed that he will force Apple to build its “computers and things” in the United States.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The latest report from KGI suggests Apple will breakaway from the existing two phone strategy next year with another high-end tier. The report says Apple is planning one new iPhone, dubbed iPhone 8, with major chassis redesigns and component upgrades featuring an OLED screen about 5.2-inches in size. It will also make two new iPhones with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays; these will be more iterative successors to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

The OLED iPhone appears to be the most interesting phone that will include the most ‘new’ stuff. If the KGI report comes to pass, in 2017 the high-end iPhone will not be the one with the biggest screen.

Expand
Expanding
Close

In this week’s top stories: Early MacBook Pro reviews roll in as Apple starts shipping the device to customers, a possible AirPods release date emerges, iOS 10.2 beta 2, iPhone 8 rumors, and much more.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple has started hiring for positions needed at its new Campus 2 facility ahead of a move-in date expected for sometime early next year.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Following on from previous rumors of a major redesign for the next iPhone, Barclays supply chain analysts are weighing in on their predictions for iPhone 8. They claim that the 2017 iPhone will feature a bezel-less design with the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus including 5-inch and 5.8-inch screens, respectively. This compares with the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch panels used in the iPhone 7.

The report also shines some light on the AirPods mystery, claiming that production of Apple’s truly-wireless earbuds will begin in December (via MacRumors, Yahoo Finance).

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple has released its holiday gift guide for 2016, including a variety of accessories for its core products: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. The list of recommendations is more focused than the vast 2015 guide, presenting four collections: music, photography, games, and a general Apple products category.

The primary category only features Apple’s first-party products, like Apple Watch bands, iPhone cases, Beats headphones and Apple Pencil for iPad Pro. The music, photography and toy collections recommend a selection of third-party accessories …

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google today released an updated Gmail app for iPhone and iPad that introduces a redesigned user interface alongside a few features from Gmail on the web that it says were highly requested. The new design is notably similar to the Gmail app available on Android devices. 

Expand
Expanding
Close

A new report from Japanese tech blog Macotakara is suggesting that Apple will update the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus to add a Jet White color option. Based on the name, following the popularity of the glossy Jet Black color, Apple would add a glossy white case chassis option to its existing line of flagship iPhones. Right now, the iPhone 7 series phones are available in five colors: Silver, Black, Gold, Rose Gold and Jet Black.

The report should be treated with quite a bit of skepticism as the source lacks details and the move does not follow the traditional cycle of Apple product releases.

Expand
Expanding
Close

In this week’s top stories: Apple answers your MacBook Pro questions, cuts USB-C adapter prices, iOS 10.2 arrives for testers, and we break down the best wireless cord-free earbuds available ahead of Apple’s AirPods.

Expand
Expanding
Close

KGI‘s Ming-Chi Kuo is out with his latest iPhone sales numbers forecast which shows the iPhone 7 line falling in sales for the second consecutive year. The primary drivers are weak demand in China, slow shipment volume of 4.7” iPhones in 1Q17, and the lack of a new iPhone SE in 2Q17.

Expand
Expanding
Close