While Apple is running a year behind most flagship smartphones in supporting 5G, a new report today says that next year’s iPhones will have most advanced 5G chip on the market.
The report echoes earlier ones in stating that all three 2020 iPhones will be 5G-compatible, but this one has more specifics…
Nikkei Asian Review cites four unnamed sources.
Longer-term, Apple is working on its own 5G circuitry which could be integrated into a future A-series chip. Some experts have said that this will take years, with 2024 cited as the earliest possible date, while a separate report says that Apple is working on a far more aggressive target date of 2022, assisted by Apple’s $1bn acquisition of Intel’s modem business.
Nikkei’s sources also support multiple earlier reports that the A-series chips for next year’s iPhones will use a 5-nanometer process.
We’ve known for almost two years that Apple’s A-series chip supplier TSMC was gearing up for 5nm chip production, with the company hitting a major milestone in April of this year.
Apple was the first company to ship 7nm chips in the form of the A12 and will be one of the first to move to 5nm.
Nikkei also corroborates multiple reports of time-of-flight 3D sensors for the rear camera.
Interestingly, though, it hedges its bets on OLED screens.
Other reports have suggested that all three of next year’s iPhone models will be OLED ones, making the base-model iPhone 11 the last flagship LCD iPhone.
Apple unsurprisingly expects its move into 5G to boost sales, targeting 80M units, at the top end of its typical 75-80M.
US 5G rollout has to far been very limited, with carriers offering coverage in a few isolated areas of a small number of cities. But Apple adopting the technology is expected to spur investment, accelerating the spread of the faster data standard.
Having the most advanced 5G chip would be consistent with Apple’s aim of having the best tech rather than being first to market.
“The infrastructure is very costly. … Apple’s move to introduce all three 5G iPhones will increase carriers’ confidence to invest,” Eddie Han, senior industry analyst at Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute, said.
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