Apple supplier predicts 500 million 5G phones in 2021
Long-time Apple supplier Murata Manufacturing says demand from Apple and others will see it supplying components for at least 500 million 5G smart phones in 2021.
One of Apple's key iPhone component suppliers, Murata Manufacturing, reports that increased orders from smartphone manufacturers are such that it had to cancel its regular holiday break. Murata makes ceramic capacitors for the iPhone 12, amongst other devices, and says that this component is particularly in demand.
"[The] situation is most severe with our cutting-edge capacitors for smartphone use," Murata president Norio Nakajima said. "The industry had 300 million units of 5G smartphones during the current fiscal year, and I expect that to increase to at least 500 million in the next fiscal year."
According to Bloomberg, Nakajima believes that the increased orders are coming from manufacturers looking to capitalize on Huawei's difficulties with the US.
"These handset makers are competing to grab our supply capacity once taken by Huawei," he said. "I am not sure how much of it is backed up by their actual production forecast. I feel like the move is overheated and thus expect their orders would drop in February and March."
However, Bloomberg claims analysts believe Nakajima is being cautious, and that stronger than expected demand for 5G devices will continue. This is despite 5G services still far from being commonly available worldwide.
According to research firm Statista, around 1.4 billion smartphones have been sold worldwide in each of the past five years.
If 2021 saw no increase in sales, that would make the estimated 500 million 5G devices represent 35.7% of total devices sold. However, recent reports from manufacturers such as Foxconn suggest that demand for 5G will grow the market.
As of 2020, an estimated 3.5 billion people own smartphones, with the most popular models being assorted Samsung, Apple, and Huawei devices.
One of Apple's key iPhone component suppliers, Murata Manufacturing, reports that increased orders from smartphone manufacturers are such that it had to cancel its regular holiday break. Murata makes ceramic capacitors for the iPhone 12, amongst other devices, and says that this component is particularly in demand.
"[The] situation is most severe with our cutting-edge capacitors for smartphone use," Murata president Norio Nakajima said. "The industry had 300 million units of 5G smartphones during the current fiscal year, and I expect that to increase to at least 500 million in the next fiscal year."
According to Bloomberg, Nakajima believes that the increased orders are coming from manufacturers looking to capitalize on Huawei's difficulties with the US.
"These handset makers are competing to grab our supply capacity once taken by Huawei," he said. "I am not sure how much of it is backed up by their actual production forecast. I feel like the move is overheated and thus expect their orders would drop in February and March."
However, Bloomberg claims analysts believe Nakajima is being cautious, and that stronger than expected demand for 5G devices will continue. This is despite 5G services still far from being commonly available worldwide.
According to research firm Statista, around 1.4 billion smartphones have been sold worldwide in each of the past five years.
If 2021 saw no increase in sales, that would make the estimated 500 million 5G devices represent 35.7% of total devices sold. However, recent reports from manufacturers such as Foxconn suggest that demand for 5G will grow the market.
As of 2020, an estimated 3.5 billion people own smartphones, with the most popular models being assorted Samsung, Apple, and Huawei devices.
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If I remember correctly, the gist of it was that all newer E Class vehicles would be able to communicate with each other about, for instance, road conditions ahead of our vehicle. So, if it was snowy or slippery ahead we would get a little advanced warning from vehicles that had already reached the bad area. “E to X” was an attempt at future-proofing, the idea being that other vehicles (the “X”) might someday also get the same or similar tech and be able to communicate on the same standard.
Since then we have driven in quite a bit of bad weather, snow, heavy rain, etc, and not one time have we gotten any type of warning. Keep in mind, it was supposed to be working at that time, it wasn’t waiting for 5G (or anything else) to come around. I have no idea if all the E classes I see are communicating with my car or not but I certainly don’t see anything that says they are.