Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
Kuo Again Predicts No 3D Touch for 2018 6.1-Inch LCD iPhone
Apple's upcoming 6.1-inch LCD iPhone may not feature 3D Touch due to cost constraints, according to a new note shared yesterday by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and published by Chinese site Feng.
Kuo says that the 6.1-inch iPhone will use what he calls "Cover Glass Sensor" (CGS) technology, relocating the iPhone's touch module from the display panel (in-cell technology) to the surface glass. The CGS method reportedly results in a display that's lighter and more shock resistant.
With this display technology, Apple will add a thin-film sensor to the touch film sensor included in the CGS, but the purpose of the new layer is unknown. It will, however, result in a 15 percent increase in the cost of the touch panel, resulting in a higher purchase price of $23 to $26.
To offset the cost of the new display it plans to use, Kuo believes Apple will remove the 3D Touch functionality on the 6.1-inch iPhone, which would be a curious move as 3D Touch is well-integrated throughout the operating system that runs on the iPhone at this point.
The other two iPhone models Apple is expected to release in 2018, the 5.8-inch OLED iPhone X successor and the 6.5-inch OLED device that can be thought of as an "iPhone X Plus," will continue to offer 3D Touch functionality.
Because Apple plans to incorporate the CGS display technology into future iPhones, including OLED models starting in 2019, 3D Touch could potentially be removed from all future iPhones.
It's not clear what the mystery thin-film sensor mentioned in Kuo's note will do, but it could be some kind of 3D Touch replacement system. Apple is said to be planning to release iPhones with touchless gesture controls in the next few years, and this could be the first step towards that goal. A gesture-based system is around two years away, however, so it the film could be some other new input method to replace 3D Touch.
Kuo believes the 6.1-inch iPhone will make up 65 to 75 percent of iPhone shipments during the year, given its lower price point and its feature parity with the two OLED devices Apple plans to introduce.
While the 6.1-inch iPhone will not feature OLED technology, it is said to have an edge-to-edge screen design and support for Face ID, like the OLED phones in the 2018 iPhone lineup.
Kuo says that the 6.1-inch iPhone will use what he calls "Cover Glass Sensor" (CGS) technology, relocating the iPhone's touch module from the display panel (in-cell technology) to the surface glass. The CGS method reportedly results in a display that's lighter and more shock resistant.
With this display technology, Apple will add a thin-film sensor to the touch film sensor included in the CGS, but the purpose of the new layer is unknown. It will, however, result in a 15 percent increase in the cost of the touch panel, resulting in a higher purchase price of $23 to $26.
To offset the cost of the new display it plans to use, Kuo believes Apple will remove the 3D Touch functionality on the 6.1-inch iPhone, which would be a curious move as 3D Touch is well-integrated throughout the operating system that runs on the iPhone at this point.
The other two iPhone models Apple is expected to release in 2018, the 5.8-inch OLED iPhone X successor and the 6.5-inch OLED device that can be thought of as an "iPhone X Plus," will continue to offer 3D Touch functionality.
Because Apple plans to incorporate the CGS display technology into future iPhones, including OLED models starting in 2019, 3D Touch could potentially be removed from all future iPhones.
It's not clear what the mystery thin-film sensor mentioned in Kuo's note will do, but it could be some kind of 3D Touch replacement system. Apple is said to be planning to release iPhones with touchless gesture controls in the next few years, and this could be the first step towards that goal. A gesture-based system is around two years away, however, so it the film could be some other new input method to replace 3D Touch.
Kuo believes the 6.1-inch iPhone will make up 65 to 75 percent of iPhone shipments during the year, given its lower price point and its feature parity with the two OLED devices Apple plans to introduce.
While the 6.1-inch iPhone will not feature OLED technology, it is said to have an edge-to-edge screen design and support for Face ID, like the OLED phones in the 2018 iPhone lineup.
Related Roundup: iPhone XS
Tag: Ming-Chi Kuo
Buyer's Guide: iPhone XS (Don't Buy)
[ 160 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
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18 months ago
One of Apple's underrated innovations... Missing. And instead replaced with more fragmentation.
Bad Apple
Bad Apple
18 months ago
Yes! Make it a 7" phablet and call it a day. It will definitely fit in my pocket since I don't wear super skinny, ultra slim, yoga pants like most "guys" do.
Will.O. prepared his pockets for the new iMegaphone X
... or he is carrying a man-purse. Take your pick.
18 months ago
And this is why “3D” touch doesn’t really get implemented anywhere meaningfully outside the core OS. They need to either fish or cut bait with it.
18 months ago
Kuo believes Apple will remove the 3D Touch functionality on the 6.1-inch iPhone, which would be a curious move as 3D Touch is well-integrated throughout the operating system that runs on the iPhone at this point.
I know this will bother a lot of iPhone users, but I never liked 3D Touch, and disabled it when I had a 6s Plus. 3D Touch is one thing missing from my current iPhone, the SE, but I don't miss it at all.
18 months ago
LOL WTF is up with the 3D Touch hate here? Apologist much?
IMO 3D Touch and Taptic Engine are an essential component of my all-screen iPhone X. Without the physical feedback, it would lack a dimension. It‘s not yet utilised to its full potential but it’s still one of the best features of iPhone X and I can’t imagine having an all-screen iPhone without it.
It would surprise me if this really is the feature where Apple wants to cheap out and further fragment the user experience but then again nothing surprises me anymore with this company nowadays.
IMO 3D Touch and Taptic Engine are an essential component of my all-screen iPhone X. Without the physical feedback, it would lack a dimension. It‘s not yet utilised to its full potential but it’s still one of the best features of iPhone X and I can’t imagine having an all-screen iPhone without it.
It would surprise me if this really is the feature where Apple wants to cheap out and further fragment the user experience but then again nothing surprises me anymore with this company nowadays.
18 months ago
the size of the X is perfect. focus on getting an under the screen fingerprint sensor and more optical zoom on the camera
18 months ago
Fanboy aside. Apple sure is creating a “spam the market” approach with iPads and iPhones.
[ Read All Comments ]
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