One analyst has made a number of predictions for the upcoming iPhones calling for the removal of 3D Touch from all 2019 models. He says iPhones released in 2020 may adopt acoustic fingerprint sensors behind the whole display area which would allow for a full-screen Touch ID feature. And there’s also talk of the iPhone SE successor based on iPhone 8 hardware possibly being released in early 2020.
Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis recently met with suppliers within Apple’s supply chain to try to figure out Apple’s next moves. His findings were summarized in a note distribute to clients today, a copy of which was obtained by MacRumors.
There’s a lot to take in so let’s get started
  • 2019 iPhones: The trio of high-end 2019 iPhones will have relatively few design changes beyond additional rear camera lenses, with production set to ramp up in the typical July-August timeframe.
  • 3D Touch removal: 3D Touch will be eliminated in all 2019 iPhones as Barclays previously predicted, possibly signaling a Haptic Touch expansion.
  • iPhone XR 2: The next-generation iPhone XR will have 4GB of RAM, up from 3GB, as previously predicted by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
  • 2020 iPhones: 2020 iPhones will have more significant changes, including 5G support, 3D sensing via the rear camera system and acoustic fingerprint technology that could allow for full-screen Touch ID.
  • iPhone SE 2: “A few suppliers” mentioned a potential second-generation iPhone SE with iPhone 8 internals in early 2020, but others had no knowledge of it.
  • LG OLEDs: LG may become a secondary supplier of OLED displays for 2019 iPhones, with a 10-30 percent split of orders with Samsung, ahead of Apple transitioning all of its iPhones to OLED as early as 2020.
This is just one analyst’s opinion on what may or may not transpire.
These predictions are all made based on channel checks and Blayne’s discussions with some of the companies that provide Apple with iPhone components. Of course, suppliers are strictly barred from sharing confidential information but they still talk to analysts privately.
I’m taking this with a grain of salt until someone more credible corroborates Barclays’ findings.
What do you make of this report?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.