July 2, 2018: Rumored iPhone 9 USB-C charger purportedly caught on camera

From Chiang Dian Tou, translated by Google:

The dynamics of the supply chain people in the circle of friends said “#apple 18W PD #apple has come to USB-C PD3.0 full power”, and with three charger pictures, Apple 18W USB PD charger ushered in the first true Machine exposure . Let’s take a closer look at these three pictures and find out the specific information.

The photos show pretty much exactly what the rumored specs showed previously: A wide, flat 18W charger with USB-C on one end and AC plugs on the other.

Again, nothing is official until Apple announces it, but a USB-C fast charger in the box makes the kind of sense that does.

Tap/click through for all the pics.

June 4, 2018: All 2018 iPhone models will reportedly launch in September

Ming-Chi Kuo, noted Apple analyst now working for TF International Securities, is back with a new supply chain report for investors, claiming that Apple will pursue an “aggressive” pricing strategy with this year’s iPhones, which will apparently all come to market in September of this year. According to Kuo (via MacRumors), Apple will offer lower comparative prices following concerns that price had a negative impact on sales of the 2017 Iphone lineup, despite the iPhone X being Apple’s single best-selling iPhone in the last few quarters.

We forecast that Apple will adopt a more aggressive price policy for the following reasons: (1) concern over the negative impact of a higher price in a mature smartphone market on selling momentum, (2) improved cost structure, which is mainly attributed to assembly yield improvements of end product & 3D sensing and cost reduction of components, and (3) increasing users of Face ID benefiting the promotion of the Apple service and ecosystem.

The second generation of the iPhone X will reportedly now start between $800 and $900, rather than the $999 starting price of last year’s Model, while the large “iPhone X Plus” model will start between $900 and $1,000. The rumored 6.1-inch LCD iPhone will apparently adopt a more traditional pricing point in Apple’s iPhone pricing structure, starting between $600 and $700.

June 1, 2018: LCD version of iPhone (2018) might be delayed… but far more likely, market manipulation has started!

Every year it’s the same thing: Before a new iPhone is announced, rumors start to spread about yield rates and delays. This year, for the iPhone XI — or whatever Apple ends up calling it — those rumors are starting super early.

Japan Display (JDI) and LG Display that are said to be provide LCD panels for the upcoming 2018 LCD iPhone are struggling to secure yields. An analyst has claimed that manufacturers are encountering light leakage problem while applying notch design on the LCD iPhone. Hence, the mass production of the smartphone is behind its usual schedule.

“An analyst” doesn’t really say much since, absent a name, we can’t consider their trackrecord, if any. Given the general history, though, it’s also very possible this is less a rumor and more yet another attempt to manipulate Apple stock.

So, don’t take it even with a grain of salt. Don’t take it at all unless and until quality information becomes available.

May 23, 2018: TSMC reportedly starts spinning up Apple A12 chipset for next-gen iPhone

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company reportedly edged out Samsung’s silicon fab for iPhone (2018) chipset production. And now, it sounds like A12 is ramping up.

Mark Gurman, writing for Bloomberg:

Apple Inc. manufacturing partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has started mass production of next-generation processors for new iPhones launching later this year, according to people familiar with the matter.

The processor, likely to be called the A12 chip, will use a 7-nanometer design that can be smaller, faster and more efficient than the 10-nanometer chips in current Apple devices like the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, the people said. They asked not to be identified discussing private plans.

Intel is still struggling to solidify its 14-nanometer process and move to 10-nanometer for future chips, so getting A12 up and running on 7-nanometer this year shows just how different the mobile (read; ARM) and traditional (read: x86) platforms have become.

We should see A12 launch alongside the 2018 iPhones this September. The real question is, after A10 Fusion and A11 Bionic, what will Apple call them?

May 16, 2018: Apple’s next iPhones could come with 18-watt charger standard

Apple might be packing an upgraded charger with this year’s iPhone lineup, as least according to a new report from ChargerLab. Citing supply chain sources, ChargerLab claims that the 2018 iPhones will have an 18W USB-C-to-Lightning charger in the box.

Apple’s upcoming 2018 iPhone will be unveiled this September, but according to our exclusive sources inside production lines, ChargerLab already has early information on the device: it will ship with an 18-watt USB-C to Lighning fast charger.

This would be an upgrade of the 5W charger currently packaged with all iPhone models.

May 10, 2018: LCD iPhone (2018) display might be just what you ThinQ (sorry!)

Due to continued OLED supply limitations and pricing, the less-expensive of the three rumored new iPhones for 2018 is widely expected to use an LCD display. A new rumor suggests it might even be the same as the one found in the new LG G7.

From Business Korea:

According to the smartphone industry on May 9, Apple is expected to load its next 6.1-inch iPhone model with an MLCD+ display which LG used in its G7 ThinQ smartphone. The MLCD+ display realizes a bright screen with less power consumption than the IPS LCD display.

LG named the display of the G7 ThinQ “Super Bright Display.” Its color reproduction rate is 100% on the DCI-P3 basis which expresses delicate colors close to nature even on bright screens. At the same brightness, the G7 ThinQ consumes 30% less power compared to the previous G6 model loaded with an LCD display.

Here is it, in action, on the G7:

May 7, 2018: iPhone X Plus (2018) will — wait for it — be iPhone Plus sized!

From Macotakara:

A reliable supplier source says that iPhone X 6.5 inches model which has a rumor that it’s a large size model equipping iPhone’s OLED, seems to be the same size as iPhone 8 Plus.

I think it’s safe to say this has always been the assumption. Same as iPhone X is regular iPhone size-ish, iPhone X Plus would be Plus iPhone size-ish.

Next model of iPhone X 5.8 inches uses the same body as current model, but along with growing the size of the camera sensor, the lens will become bigger.

Camera improvements happen every year because they help sell iPhones. Hard.

When you use Face ID authentication, iPhone X needed to be vertical state to recognize it, but in case of iOS 12, it will be able to unlock in horizontal state.

The portrait restriction was to get Face ID solid faster. It helped to have a known orientation and optimize for it. As the technology improves, restrictions can be removed. So, this makes sense.

So does horizontal support for the next-generation iPads Pro, of course.

May 2, 2018: Apple rumored to include 18W USB-C fast-chargers with next-gen iPhones

Apple currently includes 5W USB-A chargers in every iPhone box. But that could leap to 18W USB-C fast chargers with iPhone 9 / iPhone XI as soon as this year.

MacRumors picked up the rumor from Weibo:

Apple is said to be planning to upgrade to USB-C support for all of its devices, shipping next-generation iPhones with a redesigned 18W power adapter that allows for USB-C fast charging with an included USB-C to Lightning cable.

There’s no track record for this source but it does feel like a step Apple should be taking. The existing USB-C charger, sold separately, will get you to 50% in about 30 min. An in-box version should be similar.

Speed comes at the expense of longevity, of course. Faster charging creates more heat which breaks down batteries faster, but Apple is really good at managing the charging process and most users shouldn’t see much difference over the life of the battery.

Nothing is official, though, until Apple announces it.

April 24, 2018: Dual SIM-card 6.1-inch LCD iPhone rumored for 2018

Supply-chain information exfiltrator Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities is back in the news with another note to clients. In it, he claims Apple could be prepping two versions of the lower cost 6.1-inch LCD iPhone for 2018: One with a single SIM-card slot, and one with dual slots.

From MacRumors:

Apple’s upcoming lower-cost 6.1-inch iPhone could be available in two models, one that includes a single SIM and a second that offers dual-SIM dual standby (DSDS) functionality, aka two physical SIM card slots, according to an investor’s note from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Kuo believes that the 6.1-inch dual-SIM iPhone could be priced at $650 to $750, while a single SIM model could potentially be less expensive at $550 to $650. Prospective prices for the two OLED iPhones Apple plans to introduce in 2018 were not mentioned in today’s note, but those two devices are expected to be significantly more expensive.

Dual SIM-card slots are popular in Asia, where connecting to multiple carriers is a far more common requirement than in is in North America. Offering the capability could enhance Apple’s appeal, especially at the lower price tier.

April 13, 2018: FCC leaks unreleased gold iPhone X —could we see it for iPhone XI?

A gold iPhone X could be on the horizon … if Apple’s FCC filings are to be believed, anyway. The documents, which were filed back in September of last year, show a gold iPhone X with a gold stainless steel band, a gold(ish) backplate, and a black display.

It appears the documents were filed as part of Apple’s planned launch of the iPhone X, which is available in both black and white. It’s unclear why this gold iPhone X isn’t included in Apple’s lineup, but folks on Twitter are speculating this could be a hint at whatever comes after the iPhone X.

Maybe there’s a rose gold iPhone X hiding somewhere in those documents! Hey, a person can hope, right?

January 19, 2018: KGI once again predicts larger iPhones (and larger Chinese appeal)

KGI Securities financial analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a solid record when it comes to getting supply chain-sourced information on Apple’s upcoming products, reiterated his previous predictions for the 2018 iPhone lineup.

From MacRumors:

We believe the addition of 6.5-inch OLED and 6.1-inch LCD iPhone models will boost Apple’s market share in China, and that the US$650-750 6.1-inch LCD iPhone will make it easier for users worldwide to own a 3D sensing and full-screen design iPhone which offers an innovative user experience.

Those sizes would be in addition to an updated version of the current 5.8-inch OLED iPhone X. Kuo believes both the larger size 6.5-inch and lower priced 6.1-inch would help Apple boost interest in China.

December 8, 2017: 2018 iPhones may get an energy boost from new battery design

According to KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s rumored 2018 iPhone X will feature a new, L-shaped battery that comes in a single cell and has increased capacity over current iPhone batteries, while the rumored 6.5-inch variant will supposedly adopt the current two-cell design. Additionally, Apple’s LCD iPhone for 2018, rumored to be a 6.1-inch all-screen design similar to the iPhone X, will reportedly also see a bump in battery life over previous LCD phones. From AppleInsider:

If Apple and LGC work out manufacturing hurdles in time for mass production, the next-generation 5.8-inch OLED iPhone will be powered by a 2,900- to 3,000-mAh battery, Kuo says. A larger 6.5-inch OLED model is anticipated to employ a two-cell design with a capacity between 3,300 and 3,400 mAh. By comparison, the dual-cell unit in iPhone X is rated at 2,716 mAh.

To keep costs down, Kuo expects Apple to stick with a rectangular battery design for the rumored 6.1-inch LCD iPhone set to debut alongside the flagship handsets next year. Like the OLED models, however, the LCD version is predicted to boast a power-hungry TrueDepth camera and will therefore receive a boost in battery capacity compared to this year’s iPhone 8 series.

November 14, 2017: Apple reportedly considering new time-of-flight 3D sensor for rear iPhone cameras

Apple has already deployed a front-facing TrueDepth camera system, which uses infrared mapping to deliver 3D data to iPhone X. Now, Apple is rumored to be considering a laser-powered time-of-flight system to do similar for the rear camera(s).

From Bloomberg:

Apple Inc. is working on a rear-facing 3-D sensor system for the iPhone in 2019, another step toward turning the handset into a leading augmented-reality device, according to people familiar with the plan.

[…] The planned rear-facing sensor would instead use a time-of-flight approach that calculates the time it takes for a laser to bounce off surrounding objects to create a three-dimensional picture of the environment.

Apple is all-in on augmented reality (AR) so, regardless of the technology used, expect the company to keep increasing capabilities and pushing boundaries — in existing product lines and beyond.

November 13, 2017: As many as three full-screen iPhones could be coming 2018

KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple is planning three full-screen iPhones for 2018. In addition to an updated of the 5.8-inch model of the iPhone X, the company will also reportedly launch a bigger ‘Plus’ variant with a 6.5-inch OLED display, along with an all-screen LCD model with a 6.1-inch display. All of this comes in a KGI note to investors (via MacRumors):

Two new OLED models target high-end market; new TFT-LCD model aims at low-end & midrange markets: We believe the major hardware difference in the two new OLED models is size, in a bid to satisfy various needs of the high-end market. The new TFT-LCD model will differ significantly from the OLED models in hardware and design specs (for instance, the PPI will be lower). The primary selling points of the TFT-LCD model may be the innovative user experience of an integrated full-screen design and 3D sensing with a lower price tag (we expect it will likely be US$649-749).

October 9, 2017: All 2018 iPhone models to sport TrueDepth camera systems

Apple is all-in on Face ID, face tracking for AR, and the TrueDepth camera system launching alongside iPhone X. So, to the surprise of no one, new rumors suggest that TrueDepth camera system will be making its way to all iPhones launched in 2018. (Namely, a second generation iPhone X and whatever smaller and/or larger version comes with it.)

Ming Chi Kuo, as quoted by MacRumors:

We predict iOS devices to be equipped with TrueDepth Camera in 2018F will include iPhone X and 2018 new iPhone and iPad models. Because of this, we believe more developers will pay attention to TrueDepth Camera/ facial recognition related applications. We expect Apple’s (US) major promotion of facial recognition related applications will encourage the Android camp to also dedicate more resources to developing hardware and facial recognition applications.

July 6, 2017: Three OLED iPhones rumored to be coming in 2018

According to Nikkei, Apple may be planning on releasing three new iPhones in 2018, each sporting an OLED display. Apple is currently rumored to be producing one iPhone model this year with an OLED display.

Apple is planning to use advanced organic light-emitting diode displays in all new iPhone models launched from the second half of 2018, according to two industry sources.

One said that Apple is tentatively looking at releasing three new models next year. Apple did not respond to an email seeking comments.