The iPhone 7 (or iPhone 6S, more likely) could arrive a month earlier than previous models have, at least if analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities is correct. Every year we’re subject to a glut of rumors not only about possible features of the next iPhone but also suggestions that Apple is prepping it for a summer launch rather than fall. This time, however, the rumor comes from a somewhat reliable source.
When will the iPhone 7 be released?
Kuo has a great track record when it comes to making predictions about Apple products, but of course it doesn’t mean that this rumor is correct. The China Post reports that Kuo believes Apple will unveil the next iPhone in August and then make it available for purchase the following month. The analyst did not say where the information came from.
Additionally, Kuo said Hon Hai will probably get between 60% and 70% of the orders for the iPhone 7 (or iPhone 6S). The reason that was given was because Hon Hai has a higher yield rate in iPhone assemblies. The analyst believes that the iPhone 7 will drive Hon Hai’s sales for the second half of the year. Additionally, he believes that Hon Hai will receive all the orders for the rumored 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which he expects to be launched in the fourth quarter.
It should be noted that Kuo did not give the name of the next iPhone. The tech community is filling in the blank all on its own.
Kuo’s predictions about the iPhone 7 / 6S
The analyst predicts that just like with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, there will again be two models this year, with one being a 4.7-inch model and the other being 5.5 inches in size. Kuo expects the 4.7-inch model to make up approximately 66% of the total iPhone models ordered this year.
In terms of features, the analyst believes Apple will add Force Touch technology, a rumor that’s been circulating for quite some time now. The technology is incorporated into the Apple Watch and the MacBook and enables the device to tell the difference between a tap and a press. According to Kuo, the addition of the technology to the iPhone 7 / iPhone 6S will support “handwritten signatures” and offer more methods for inputting information.
