Sales of iPhone 11 devices reportedly have been brisk since their launch, and analysts are expecting shipments of the latest Apple smartphones to reach 70-80 million units during third-quarter 2019 to first-quarter 2020.
Now supply chain sources have disclosed that Apple estimates its next-generation 5G iPhones to be released in 2020 will be even stronger shipments during the initial three-quarter period.
Digitimes further notes that Apple expects strong shipments for 5G iPhones, sources say: Apple reportedly has given supply chain partners its shipment forecasts for the next-generation iPhone to be released in 2020, expecting a sharp rise compared to the estimated amount for the iPhone 11 series, according to sources from Taiwan’s supply chain.
2020 iPhones are likely to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X55 5G Modem that is built on 7nm processes. It’s a multimode 5G modem, and the first to support 7 Gbps downlink. It also integrates 2G through to 5G, and so doesn’t require a separate modem to make use of, say, 4G LTE spectrum. Indeed, Qualcomm says it should operate on any key spectrum band, and in any region.
The iPhones will also feature Apple’s latest-generation processor, known as A14, that will use the world’s most advanced 5-nanometer chip technology, as made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.. Currently, only Apple and Huawei have plans to use this chip production technology next year.
Rumors of Apple gearing up for 80 million or more shipments of 5G iPhones was reported on by the Nikkei Asian review back in October. A second Digitimes report is reportedly pushing the shipment forecast to 100 million. The second Digitimes report is here behind a paywall.
