'iPhone 13' launch due third week of September, says analyst
Apple will return to holding its iPhone launches in September, according to Wedbush analysts, with the "iPhone 13" expected to be unveiled in the third week of September.
Apple is known to hold fall events for the iPhone and other products, with the main iPhone launch itself typically occurring in September. After an October reveal of the iPhone 12 range in 2020, some analysts believe that Apple could return to form for 2021.
In a note to investors seen by AppleInsider, Wedbush's Asia supply chain checks for the second half of 2020 put iPhone builds at between 130 million and 150 million units. In terms of the breakdown into specific products, the "iPhone 13" is thought to be between 35% and 45% of third-quarter builds.
Wedbush reckons this outlook gives it "enhanced confidence" that launches in 2021 will be "normal" rather than late.
"From a timing perspective, we believe the current iPhone 13 launch is slated for the third week in September," the investment bank forecasts.
As for the supply chain itself, the current level of builds for the "iPhone 13" family is in the 90 million unit range, compared to initial pre-COVID checks for the iPhone 12 at 80 million units. The roughly 10% improvement year-on-year "speaks to an increased confidence with Cook & Co. that this 5G driven product cycle will extend well into 2022," Wedbush suggests.
Wedbush isn't the only one to expect a September launch. On August 12, TrendForce offered its own expectations, including a September release.
For 2021, Wedbush believes Apple will offer a 1 terabyte storage option in its models, double the 512GB limit of the iPhone 12 Pro. LiDAR is also thought to spread to all devices in the range, rather than being limited to the Pro generation, among other key enhancements.
Wedbush is also confident that Apple will see a "robust consumer product cycle" with high pent-up demand. It is estimated that some 250 million of the 975 million iPhones in use are 3.5 years old, or older, which could help push sales in the 2021 releases.
Read on AppleInsider
Apple is known to hold fall events for the iPhone and other products, with the main iPhone launch itself typically occurring in September. After an October reveal of the iPhone 12 range in 2020, some analysts believe that Apple could return to form for 2021.
In a note to investors seen by AppleInsider, Wedbush's Asia supply chain checks for the second half of 2020 put iPhone builds at between 130 million and 150 million units. In terms of the breakdown into specific products, the "iPhone 13" is thought to be between 35% and 45% of third-quarter builds.
Wedbush reckons this outlook gives it "enhanced confidence" that launches in 2021 will be "normal" rather than late.
"From a timing perspective, we believe the current iPhone 13 launch is slated for the third week in September," the investment bank forecasts.
As for the supply chain itself, the current level of builds for the "iPhone 13" family is in the 90 million unit range, compared to initial pre-COVID checks for the iPhone 12 at 80 million units. The roughly 10% improvement year-on-year "speaks to an increased confidence with Cook & Co. that this 5G driven product cycle will extend well into 2022," Wedbush suggests.
Wedbush isn't the only one to expect a September launch. On August 12, TrendForce offered its own expectations, including a September release.
For 2021, Wedbush believes Apple will offer a 1 terabyte storage option in its models, double the 512GB limit of the iPhone 12 Pro. LiDAR is also thought to spread to all devices in the range, rather than being limited to the Pro generation, among other key enhancements.
Wedbush is also confident that Apple will see a "robust consumer product cycle" with high pent-up demand. It is estimated that some 250 million of the 975 million iPhones in use are 3.5 years old, or older, which could help push sales in the 2021 releases.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Not sure how long that’ll be, but they’ll get there eventually.
Look elsewhere for Apple innovation, the iPhone is in cruise control.
Why is this a surprise? Well the article clearly covers that. Last year the iPhone 12 family was announced in October -- later than usual -- a COVID driven delay.
This is also important because a September launch would indicate that Apple has a handle on its supply chain despite widespread component and materials shortages that have been plaguing the semiconductor industry for about a year. A solid execution of the iPhone 13 family would demonstrate to Apple investors that Apple has adapted to the changing business environment, perhaps better than its competitors.
Are you an American with a retirement account or pension? If so, then you are almost certainly an indirect AAPL shareholder. Apple Inc.'s ability to execute their business strategy is important to your retirement.
This is also important to AppleInsider who worship at the Altar of the Almighty Pageview. They publish stuff like this because it's what keeps the lights on.
Iterative product development is the name of the game. It’s how we got from the original iPhone/Mac/Watch/whatever to the current versions, or iterations. They don't pop out of a clamshell, fully formed.
Gruber wrote about over a decade ago:
https://www.macworld.com/article/1151235/macs/apple-rolls.html
...that you're looking for product announcements to alleviate your boredom is entirely not their purpose.