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New iPhones Still Expected to Launch in June/July, Fingerprint Sensor for iPhone 5S?

Monday March 4, 2013 6:09 pm PST by Eric Slivka
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued a new research report claiming that Apple is expected to unveil its iPhone 5S and lower-cost iPhone alongside iOS 7 this June, with the devices coming available in July. Versions supporting the time-division duplexing (TDD) standard used by China Mobile are said to follow in September.
We expect Apple will introduce its new iPhones and iOS7 in June, and start shipping the new iPhones (5S and low-cost model) in the FDD version in July. Both dates are earlier than last year’s roadmap. We attribute this to: (1) an effort to avoid repeating the fatal mistake of last year of the delayed iPhone 5 launch, which gave competitors room to grab market share; and (2) the new iPhones this year are mainly designed on the basis of the current iPhone 5, which suggests development time could be reduced.
Kuo says that all of the new iPhone models, including the lower-cost iPhone, will support LTE, with differentiation coming in other specs.
[W]e expect the product differentiation between iPhone 5S and iPhone 5 will be: (1) computing power, with iPhone 5S to run on the faster A7 application processor; (2) the camera, with iPhone 5S being equipped with Smart Flash, ensuring photo quality using white or yellow flash according to lighting conditions; (3) iPhone 5S will have a fingerprint chip under the Home button, improving security and usability; and (4) the low-cost iPhone 5 hybrid casing of fiberglass and plastic will make it lighter and slimmer than general plastic casing and easier to make in various colors. However, we still think it will be heavier than iPhone 5S, which will have an aluminum casing. Thus, even form factor will be an area of differentiation.
kuo_iphone_5s_july
Kuo's iPhone claims are very similar to ones he laid out in his 2013 Apple product roadmap back in mid-January, but the fresh report suggests that Apple is still on track and his fresh comments on a TDD iPhone suggest that Apple may indeed be very close to bringing the iPhone to China Mobile, the world's largest carrier.

Kuo has a rather solid track record, having accurately predicted a number of Apple product announcements in recent years. As a result, his research reports have been followed with increasing interest.

Tag: Ming-Chi Kuo
[ 208 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

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Avatar
IbisDoc
76 months ago
If that's really the new iPhone, Apple's stock drops below $400. Maybe far below.
Rating: 31 Votes
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w00t951
76 months ago
Hello, Key Lime Pie Nexus. Nice to meet you. Oh, you're not on contract either? Even better.
Rating: 24 Votes
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nepalisherpa
76 months ago
Hardware-wise, I am satisfied with iPhone 5. I just want to see what Apple does with iOS7.
Rating: 22 Votes
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Wicked1
76 months ago
If you want to call that an upgrade go ahead, I have the 5 and not much different. They need to stop with the S model phones, they are not the only good game in town anymore, time to produce a solid phone every year Apple.
Rating: 21 Votes
Avatar
pianophile
76 months ago
Fingerprint sensor = huge

I can't believe all the negativity about the fingerprint sensor rumor. Am I the only iPhone user that's sick and tired of the tap-tap-tap-tap of typing that damn pin every time I want to use my phone?

This is going to be so cool:

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/apple-patents-fingerprint-sensor-for-biometric-iphone-unlock-1104176
Rating: 18 Votes
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saturn79
76 months ago
Am I the only one here who thinks a fingerprint sensor is actually an awesome addition to the next iPhone? Seriously, it will make unlocking your secured iPhone much faster and easier.
Rating: 17 Votes
Avatar
slffl
76 months ago

I just hope iOS7 is dramatically different. We've been essentially using the same OS for 5 years now!


And android has been the same for 4 years. What's your point? You want widgets and themes? :/

----------

I have a upgrade in a couple of weeks. I'm going to go ahead and get a iphone 5, and giv Apple another chance. But apple has 18 months to really impress me or else I will look into a Galaxy (Whatever number it will be). And that's not with a silly finger print scanner. I dont have CIA documents on my phone.


What's the galaxy going to give you that you don't have now? GarageBand? iTunes U? iPhoto? iMovie? Photostream? Backup and restore? Please I want to know what the galaxy has besides a large screen with neon greens and blue whites, heavy, un-pocketable, plastic phone.
Rating: 16 Votes
Avatar
saving107
76 months ago
A new iPhone usually launches along side a new iOS.

iOS usually goes through 2-3 months of beta testing before it gets released.

So if apple doesn't announce iOS 7 in the next month then I wouldn't expect a new iPhone by June.
Rating: 15 Votes
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irDigital0l
76 months ago
Bigger screen or revamped iOS 7.

That's all I want.
Rating: 14 Votes
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Rogifan
76 months ago

oh boy....i can't wait for the next iPhone 5. I love iOs :apple: and hope it gets a major overhaul/improvement.....but i just read an article that says the next samsung S4 will have eye motion detection technology. Don't really see the significance of it.....but if works wonders as the article stated it would do (i.e. you'll be able to scroll through webpages with your eyes) then I truly think Samsung will have leaped over Apple in the smartphone business with that feature. :apple:


If a fingerprint sensor is stupid this is even more gimmicky.
Rating: 14 Votes

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