Apple has investors worried as multiple signs suggest that iPhone sales may not be as strong as initially expected. The company’s stock dipped below the floor of $110 per share bulls had set as a support level, indicating that all bets are off right now – even with a Wall Street favorite like Apple. Year to date, Apple shares are now down by more than 2%, but to be fair, most of the market is taking a hit today as a result of macro trends with numerous favorites like Netflix, Facebook, Tesla Motors, Microsoft and others being in the red today.
However, most of Wall Street’s favorite stocks are on the plus side year to date, unlike Apple. Even Tesla is hanging on in the green, although only by a thread now. So with much of Wall Street beginning to throw in the towel on Apple – at least for now – what can we expect from the company next year? If the iPhone 6s lineup fails to do as well as most had hoped, will the iPhone 7 reignite that flame? And what about the rumored iPhone 6c?
Will there be an iPhone 6c?
We’ve heard murmurings for quite some time that Apple is refreshing its 4-inch iPhone and calling it the iPhone 6c. Interestingly, we’ve been hearing lately that the phone could be released in early next year rather than later with the iPhone 7, possibly as early as the first quarter. Recently an analyst who has a strong track record of revealing Apple secrets early said the iPhone 6c will feature a display with curved-edged glass.
If this is true, it will make the new 4-inch iPhone more similar to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s. Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities also suggested that the iPhone 6c will have an A9 processor and near-field communications capabilities, which will likely make it capable of performing Apple Pay transactions. The analyst also said the camera will be the same as that of the iPhone 5s and that the 4-inch model will have a metallic case in only three colors rather than several as the iPhone 5c was.
What about the iPhone 7?
Whether or not a new 4-inch iPhone will matter much for sales is up for debate, but there’s no denying that the iPhone 7 will be a crucial part of Apple’s product portfolio next year. Kuo has also weighed in on the next flagship model, suggesting that the 3D Touch feature that will be in the iPhone 7 will be very similar to what’s in the iPhone 6s.
Other sources have suggested that the next flagship will be waterproof and of course ultra-thin. It wouldn’t be an Apple product if it wasn’t ultra-thin, now would it? We’ve also heard some Chinese sources claim that the iPhone 7 won’t have a Lightning port and that it will support wireless charging and feature a dual camera and fingerprint recognition.
Expectations for the iPad Air 3
Rumors about the iPad Air 3 abound as well. Interestingly, one source suggested that the next iPad may actually arrive in March along with the next MacBook. This would put the iPad’s release sooner than usual as Apple typically releases new iPads in the fall. However, the last iPad Air model came out in 2014, while 2015 brought the larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Also we’ve heard that it will be less expensive than the iPad Pro, which is to be expected because of the size difference.
One feature some are waiting for to arrive on the iPad is 3D Touch, but it’s possible that it won’t make it into the iPad Air 3 because of production shortfalls. Rumors suggest that Apple suppliers are having trouble making enough of the components to include it in both the iPhone 7 and the iPad Air 3.
The next Apple Watch
Fans are also anticipating the Apple Watch 2 in the new year with reports pointing to a March event, possibly the same one at which the iPhone 6c will be unveiled at, if it really is in the works. The pressure is on for significant improvements over the first model, and the company just might be able to deliver. Some sources suggest new materials will be used and that a FaceTime camera will be added (a horrible idea in practice but hey, fans might like the idea of it until they attempt to use it on such a tiny display).
Apple might also include new health sensors and wireless technologies.
As of this writing, shares of Apple were down 2.52% at $106.22 per share in afternoon trading on Friday.
