The
rumored iPhone changes will arrive in 2017 when Apple is slated to rework its
entire iPhone lineup, according to an analyst's report.
Major
changes to Apple's iPhone lineup are potentially coming in 2017, including the
addition of wireless charging, AMOLED displays and a glass-encased model with a
5.8-inch screen, according to a research note from a KGI Securities analyst.
The
report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo updates his previous predictions that Apple
would introduce an AMOLED display in 2018. Kuo's research was reported in a
March 26 story by 9to5Mac, which also said that Apple will review glass,
plastic and ceramic cases for its upcoming 2017 iPhones, but will go with glass
because "plastic doesn't offer thin and light form factor designs, and it
would be not easy to precisely control the tolerance of ceramic."
Perhaps
the biggest prediction in Kuo's note is his belief that Apple will unveil an
iPhone that has a 5.8-inch diagonal display while having an overall size that
is smaller than today's 5.5-inch iPhone, the story reported. "If Apple is
able to produce enough of the 5.8-inch AMOLED displays, the larger device will
entirely replace the 5.5-inch model, meaning that Apple will offer 4.7-inch and
5.8-inch iPhones in 2017."
Wireless
charging, which is available in phones from competitors including Samsung's
recent Galaxy S6 and S7 devices, is also being eyed for the next iPhones in
2017, the report indicates. Other new features include "additional
biometric recognitions, perhaps facial recognition or eye recognition."
In
January, reports surfaced that Apple is trimming production of its current
iPhones by about 30 percent through March due to growing stocks of unsold
iPhone 6 smartphones around the world. The production cutbacks are expected to
allow remaining iPhone inventories to be reduced in the meantime. A similar
iPhone production cut was made by Apple in 2013.
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