Future iPhone predictions based on 4 year trends

[Andres Cantu]

It would be leaps and bounds better.

That's good to hear! I can see the Apple Watch 2 being like what the iPad 2 was to the iPad: thinner, more powerful, and perhaps even a FaceTime camera? But as for the future iPhones, I hope that every year there is a reduction in nm size, from 14 to 10 and so on. That along with even marginal increments to battery size (as has been the case so far except for the 6+) should equal better battery life for every generation, something nobody will complain about

 

[TechGod]

That's good to hear! I can see the Apple Watch 2 being like what the iPad 2 was to the iPad: thinner, more powerful, and perhaps even a FaceTime camera? But as for the future iPhones, I hope that every year there is a reduction in nm size, from 14 to 10 and so on. That along with even marginal increments to battery size (as has been the case so far except for the 6+) should equal better battery life for every generation, something nobody will complain about

A die shrink may not be always possible. We're fighting the laws of science the smaller we go.

 

[Glideslope]

Yeah, don't worry
I wonder if the reason for it being 28nm is because they started the development back in 2013 or if they held back on 20nm so that the 2nd generation Apple Watch can have significantly better battery life than the current one? If the next chip is 14nm, it should have much better battery life!

That is a very good question. I have not a clue. My gut tells me it is 28nm due to being fabbed by TSMC. Apple Watch 2nd Gen, IMO, will be 20nm. I personally don't see any new AW Hardware for at least 18m.

 

[Andres Cantu]

That is a very good question. I have not a clue. My gut tells me it is 28nm due to being fabbed by TSMC. Apple Watch 2nd Gen, IMO, will be 20nm. I personally don't see any new AW Hardware for at least 18m.

I believe TSMC also fabricated some 20nm A8 chips for the iPhone 6. Whatever their reasoning was, I also don't see the 2nd generation model being released until late 2016. It wouldn't be fair for the people who have yet to receive theirs for them to become obsolete in less than a year (if they chose March 2016). But then a bunch of products would release in the Fall every year, especially this year (iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Apple TVs, maybe iPods), though I don't think they mind that, since the holiday quarter makes financial sense.

 

[Glideslope]

I believe TSMC also fabricated some 20nm A8 chips for the iPhone 6. Whatever their reasoning was, I also don't see the 2nd generation model being released until late 2016. It wouldn't be fair for the people who have yet to receive theirs for them to become obsolete in less than a year (if they chose March 2016). But then a bunch of products would release in the Fall every year, especially this year (iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Apple TVs, maybe iPods), though I don't think they mind that, since the holiday quarter makes financial sense.

Agreed. 14nm at the end of 2016 earliest (in sufficient volume.)

 

[nj-morris]

I believe TSMC also fabricated some 20nm A8 chips for the iPhone 6. Whatever their reasoning was, I also don't see the 2nd generation model being released until late 2016. It wouldn't be fair for the people who have yet to receive theirs for them to become obsolete in less than a year (if they chose March 2016). But then a bunch of products would release in the Fall every year, especially this year (iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Apple TVs, maybe iPods), though I don't think they mind that, since the holiday quarter makes financial sense.

Which is why Samsung are making the A9

 

[Andres Cantu]

Which is why Samsung are making the A9

Whoever makes the next-generations A-chips is fine by me as long as they are cutting edge in terms of efficiency

 

[nviz22]

So the 7 will get 14-16nm? What will the A9 be, 18nm? Nm isn't a big deal coming from the S6 Edge to the 6+.

What I would like to see (if I were to get rid of my 6+, but on wait and see approach) would be more RAM, a significantly better camera (12 MP, capable of 4k perhaps), that killer S feature Apple does like Siri or Touch ID, expanded NFC use (even if I won't use it as much), multi-window, more exclusive iOS 9 features, expanded power management, LED notification indicator, force touch gestures, a tri-core or quad core processor, band 12 support, stylus built in, and a better front facing camera.

 

[Andres Cantu]

So the 7 will get 14-16nm? What will the A9 be, 18nm? Nm isn't a big deal coming from the S6 Edge to the 6+.

What I would like to see (if I were to get rid of my 6+, but on wait and see approach) would be more RAM, a significantly better camera (12 MP, capable of 4k perhaps), that killer S feature Apple does like Siri or Touch ID, expanded NFC use (even if I won't use it as much), multi-window, more exclusive iOS 9 features, expanded power management, LED notification indicator, force touch gestures, a tri-core or quad core processor, band 12 support, stylus built in, and a better front facing camera.

The A9 should be 14nm, and the A10 should be 10 nm (both probably by Samsung). And wow, you pretty much described all of the features I'm looking forward to! Yes more RAM, better cameras (especially the front-facing camera's megapixels, they need to go up!), force touch gestures, tri-core A9, band 12 support for T-Mobile, and a really killer hardware or software feature for next year's iPhone (it's the 10th one, so it better be good!).

 

[nviz22]

The A9 should be 14nm, and the A10 should be 10 nm (both probably by Samsung). And wow, you pretty much described all of the features I'm looking forward to! Yes more RAM, better cameras (especially the front-facing camera's megapixels, they need to go up!), force touch gestures, tri-core A9, band 12 support for T-Mobile, and a really killer hardware or software feature for next year's iPhone (it's the 10th one, so it better be good!).

Any ideas on what this year's crazy feature? Only way people can tell with somewhat of an idea is with their past mergers and acquisitions from the last 3 years.

 

[Andres Cantu]

For the iPhone 6s, it's most likely Force Touch. 3GS had speed, 4 had FaceTime, 4s had Siri, 5 had LTE, 5s had Touch ID, and 6 had the bigger screen. I'm thinking the iPhone 7 could have a liquidmetal case or a sapphire display. I'm not too familiar with those materials though, so there's a really high chance I'm wrong. Either way, the 7 has to have a must-have feature since it would be the 10th iPhone.

I'm also thinking the 7s will use their recent acquisition of LinX to possibly bring optical zooming as its killer feature, since the "S" models always bring the biggest camera improvements. Plus, it took Siri a year-and-a-half after Apple's acquisition to arrive in the 4s, so the 7s makes sense in terms of time as well.

 

[nviz22]

For the iPhone 6s, it's most likely Force Touch. 3GS had speed, 4 had FaceTime, 4s had Siri, 5 had LTE, 5s had Touch ID, and 6 had the bigger screen. I'm thinking the iPhone 7 could have a liquidmetal case or a sapphire display. I'm not too familiar with those materials though, so there's a really high chance I'm wrong. Either way, the 7 has to have a must-have feature since it would be the 10th iPhone.

I'm also thinking the 7s will use their recent acquisition of LinX to possibly bring optical zooming as its killer feature, since the "S" models always bring the biggest camera improvements. Plus, it took Siri a year-and-a-half after Apple's acquisition to arrive in the 4s, so the 7s makes sense in terms of time as well.

Since this is an S year, a 4k recording and picture taking function should be expected? What about other camera improvements you think are possible?

 

[Andres Cantu]

Since this is an S year, a 4k recording and picture taking function should be expected? What about other camera improvements you think are possible?

4K video recording would go nicely with an Apple TV 4 in September (even the name matches!). Previously, they have only updated that device for increasing resolution support.

I think f/2.0 apertures for both cameras is likely, but would you be disappointed if they do not match the LG G4's f/1.8 aperture? Also, I'm unsure whether a 1.1 micron size that many other phones use is the rumored smaller size or if they would just go back to a 1.4 micron size like the iPhone 5, since both are technically smaller. They have talked about smaller pixels in their keynotes several times before, so they might say something like "we've increased the size of the aperture to f/x.x to offset the effect of smaller pixels and maintain that low light performance you've come to expect from the iPhone."

As for the FaceTime HD camera, I think either 2 or 5 megapixels and 1080p video recording seem likely, but they really should go at least 5 to match other phones (8 and even 13 are starting to become common). 1.2 and even 2 megapixels is too low in my opinion.