Report from Korea says to expect just one 5G compatible iPhone model for 2020
Earlier today, we passed along the latest word about the 2020 Apple iPhones from TF International’s reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Just to reiterate, Kuo sees two iPhone 12 Pro variants next year, both sporting OLED panels made by Samsung. The analyst says that the iPhone 12 Pro will be equipped with a 5.4-inch display while a huge 6.7-inch screen will be featured on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The iPhone 12, according to Kuo, will also carry an AMOLED display, but one made by LG that will measure 6.1-inches.
Apple will equip its 5G iPhones with the Snapdragon X55 modem chip
The report does note that Apple has been impressed with Samsung’s on-cell OLED technology (called ‘Y-OCTA’) which allows for a thinner display. Since Samsung is the only company that can mass-produce this display, Apple gave its rival the order. An industry representative quoted by the Korean publication said, “Although Apple had been sticking with film touch method since its first iPhone, Samsung Display has succeeded in drawing a change from Apple by actively promoting Y-OCTA technology to Apple.” said a representative for the industry. “It is heard that Samsung Display also suggested shocking terms in order to obtain an order from Apple.”
But just as the two giants were wrapping up a trial with billions of dollars at stake, both sides settled. Apple paid Qualcomm a reported $4.5 billion and received a six-year license (with an option for an additional two more years) and a multi-year chip supply agreement. In addition, all legal action between the two companies was dropped. So Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf was right when he said a year ago that his company and Apple would end up resolving all of their differences.
We will have to check back next September to see whether Ming-Chi Kuo (all three 2020 iPhones will support 5G) or Korea’s ETNews (Apple will release more than four phones next year with one 5G model) was right.