Kuo Shares 2019 iPhone Expectations: 18W USB-C Charger for Higher-End Models, Bilateral Wireless Charging Might Not Happen

[0989382]

I was checking out my friends Huawei 3e Nova the other day. Damn cool. It was like actually wow, cool camera. Zippy etc. And its like, I dunno, 1/6th the price of an iPhone? Don't get me wrong I'm an Apple fanboy, but the iPhone is, to be honest, unexciting, expensive, and it seems to trail other phones ideas now, not introduce them. Other manufacturers have been doing triple cameras already - this camera is old news before it even gets released. They'll be going on about how good it is for AR, when honestly, no one cares. I don't get Apples plan for the iPhone anymore, they don't seem to have one. After playing with that 3e, I'm wondering why i don't just grab one of those.

It's only unexciting because you're used to it, can depend on it etc. If you sold it tomorrow and bought the Huawei, yeah it'd be a great phone with good features but most likely you'll be bothered by the relatively cheap build quality, the 'manual' ness of Android versus iOS and the pain of deciding over every last customisable feature etc. I'm not saying it's worse or better, just that it's different. And in-store or looking at a friends device is enticing on the surface but real world use and long term opinions would likely be much different for you / anyone. That's certainly been my experience with even flagship Samsung S10+ when I had it (for a week) lol
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I didn't stop relaying, I just accept there is an irreconcilable difference of opinions when one side defines "new gold colour" as an "upgrade" for a $1000+ phone

Again, one of many, many improvements. Your point is implying that the new colour was the only feature improvement, well read back... there's more! ..

 

[PickUrPoison]

I still use my iP6+
Haven't seen good enough reason to switch newer model yet.

I wish they'd make classic models with newer processors :/

For me, that reason is that I don’t like to run an unsupported operating system. Hopefully Apple would still issue an update to iOS 12.4.1 if there’s a major security issue found. 1GB of memory is somewhat limited as well.

In any case, if the rumored new “SE” comes next March, that might be something you’d be interested in. Should have an A12 or A13 and come in somewhere around $500. Reportedly it’ll be based on the iPhone 8, with a 4.7” display and TouchID. Pretty much the “classic model with a new processor” you’re looking for.

 

[0989382]

For me, that reason is that I don’t like to run an unsupported operating system. Hopefully Apple would still issue an update to iOS 12.4.1 if there’s a major security issue found. 1GB of memory is somewhat limited as well.

In any case, if the rumored new “SE” comes next March, that might be something you’d be interested in. Should have an A12 or A13 and come in somewhere around $500. Reportedly it’ll be based on the iPhone 8, with a 4.7” display and TouchID. Pretty much the “classic model with a new processor” you’re looking for.

I went from an iP6+ to the SE back in 2017. I missed the huge form factor, but those few years of grasping the 'last Steve Jobs era' design were worth it! I'm happily on XR now and don't look back. But the SE was a great move, even from the large iP6+

 

[Michael Scrip]

how much Apple will increase the iPhone prices this year?

The first part of that chart is a little disingenuous.

Yes... the price tag on the shelf at the carrier store said $199... but that's because the carrier was "subsidizing" the other $450 as part of your monthly bill over the two-year contract.

It was just a pricing trick. You had to pay a monthly fee to the carrier anyway... so they bundled in the remaining price of the phone over two years. It's simply how the mobile phone market worked since the beginning (in the US, mind you)

Then people hated the idea of contracts... so carriers did away with contracts and the accompanying "subsidies" and you saw the retail price of the phone.

There was no time in history where Apple was actually selling the iPhone for a retail price of $199.

Want proof? Remember how the newest iPhone back then was listed at $199 and the older phones were $99 and free respectively?

Well... do you think that 2-year old iPhone was actually free???

Of course not.

The $199, $99, and $0 prices were illusions. You were paying the remainder all along hidden in your bill.

Frankly I'm glad these supposed "subsidies" are gone. I'd rather know exactly what I'm paying for.

However... if you don't want to pay the full price of the phone all at once... the carrier will break the price into 24 equal chunks and they'll add it to the monthly bill you're already paying.

Six of one, half dozen of the other.

You either pay $749 for the XR up-front... plus your monthly service bill...

Or they'll add $31.21 to your monthly service bill.

Anyway... in summary... iPhones were never $199...

-----

Next topic... $1,000 phones? Are they crazy??

I'll agree with you there!

 

[Textime]

Rumor or not I am becoming disappointed with Apple. The features they used to announce used to be revolutionary.

I for one had high hopes they would retire lightning for USB-C and they would include bilateral charging. These days, if you want innovation you look to android devices.

But they do have snazzy credit card (insert eye-roll)

For gods sake please google what diminishing returns in technology means. Those guys who complain that Apple isn’t revolutionary anymore are just annoying

 

[I7guy]

yes Qualcomm is paying for Apple, just like Mexico is paying for the wall and China is paying the tariffs

And Android is the benchmark for Apple, and, the earth is flat and, and.,

 

[Khedron]

Again, one of many, many improvements. Your point is implying that the new colour was the only feature improvement, well read back... there's more! ..

Most of which are trivial improvements like battery and CPU and not "new features"

How about this: name me a single $1000 flagship which DIDN'T improve the CPU/battery compared to the previous year's model?

Apple fans' expectations truly are rock bottom if all they need to justify a new purchase is "not worse" than the phone they already bought 12 months ago

 

[I7guy]

I was checking out my friends Huawei 3e Nova the other day. Damn cool. It was like actually wow, cool camera. Zippy etc. And its like, I dunno, 1/6th the price of an iPhone? Don't get me wrong I'm an Apple fanboy, but the iPhone is, to be honest, unexciting, expensive, and it seems to trail other phones ideas now, not introduce them. Other manufacturers have been doing triple cameras already - this camera is old news before it even gets released. They'll be going on about how good it is for AR, when honestly, no one cares. I don't get Apples plan for the iPhone anymore, they don't seem to have one. After playing with that 3e, I'm wondering why i don't just grab one of those.

Maybe you should, use it for a year and as a self-proclaimed apple fan, come back with a review. It's not about apple doing something after the fact, it's about they way it's done. Apple was late to the party with the fingerprint reader that because the instant benchmark for mobile phone biometric security as an example.

 

[0989382]

Most of which are trivial improvements like battery and CPU and not "new features"

How about this: name me a single $1000 flagship which DIDN'T improve the CPU/battery compared to the previous year's model?

Apple fans' expectations truly are rock bottom if all they need to justify an entire new phone is "not worse" than the phone they bought 12 months ago

They're improvements. That's the point. When you have as many of them as the XS did over the X, that's a perfectly rational argument for somebody to think 'that's a good upgrade'. You don't have to agree. But you're wrong to challenge people who do when there is factually so many tangible improvements, no matter how you try to downplay it.

Whether every flagship does or does not improve battery, does not subtract from the point that this was one of the many improvements on XS over X. Deal with it.

 

[MX20]

Ming-Chi Kuo is some of the dumbest analyst I ever heard of.

 

[0989382]

The first part of that chart is a little disingenuous.

Yes... the price tag on the shelf at the carrier store said $199... but that's because the carrier was "subsidizing" the other $450 as part of your monthly bill over the two-year contract.

It was just a pricing trick. You had to pay a monthly fee to the carrier anyway... so they bundled in the remaining price of the phone over two years. It's simply how the mobile phone market worked since the beginning (in the US, mind you)

Then people hated the idea of contracts... so carriers did away with contracts and the accompanying "subsidies" and you saw the retail price of the phone.

There was no time in history where Apple was actually selling the iPhone for a retail price of $199.

Want proof? Remember how the newest iPhone back then was listed at $199 and the older phones were $99 and free respectively?

Well... do you think that 2-year old iPhone was actually free???

Of course not.

The $199, $99, and $0 prices were illusions. You were paying the remainder all along hidden in your bill.

Frankly I'm glad these supposed "subsidies" are gone. I'd rather know exactly what I'm paying for.

However... if you don't want to pay the full price of the phone all at once... the carrier will break the price into 24 equal chunks and they'll add it to the monthly bill you're already paying.

Six of one, half dozen of the other.

You either pay $749 for the XR up-front... plus your monthly service bill...

Or they'll add $31.21 to your monthly service bill.

Anyway... in summary... iPhones were never $199...

-----

Next topic... $1,000 phones? Are they crazy??

I'll agree with you there!

Damn, I'm going to miss Statista when my student login is expired (any day now)
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Ming-Chi Kuo is some of dumbest analyst I ever heard of.

Oh, no, that's just his name ... ;-)

 

[Michael Scrip]

Maybe you should, use it for a year and as a self-proclaimed apple fan, come back with a review. It's not about apple doing something after the fact, it's about they way it's done. Apple was late to the party with the fingerprint reader that because the instant benchmark for mobile phone biometric security as an example.

Yep... phones like the Motorola Atrix had fingerprint readers before Apple... but they were actually terrible.

So terrible, in fact, that Motorola didn't even bother putting a fingerprint sensor on the Atrix II

It's another shining example of not doing it first... and instead doing it right!

 

[mixel]

I really don't mind what features they add as long as it's another step forward. I've been hoping to update from my 8+, maybe this will cause the XS to drop in price. A drastically improved camera would likely make me get this revision.

I dont mind which port it has either. I'm kind of surprised Apple haven't just released a faster, backwards compatible version of lightning.

 

[0989382]

I really don't mind what features they add as long as it's another step forward. I've been hoping to update from my 8+, maybe this will cause the XS to drop in price. A drastically improved camera would likely make me get this revision.

I dont mind which port it has either. I'm kind of surprised Apple haven't just released a faster, backwards compatible version of lightning.

See, you're the person these annual upgrades are made for. You've had an iPhone and gotten 2-3 years use out of it. Now, you've got the improvements of the X, XS - AND - 2019's new iPhone to enjoy. That's going to be an amazing upgrade. Hold on another year, and it'll be an out-of-this-world upgrade.

These guys complaining about £1,000 every year 'for nothing' are out of touch with the reality in most peoples lives..

 

[Gutwrench]

Bots are waiting for Tim to say, “jump!”

 

[Michael Scrip]

See, you're the person these annual upgrades are made for. You've had an iPhone and gotten 2-3 years use out of it. Now, you've got the improvements of the X, XS - AND - 2019's new iPhone to enjoy. That's going to be an amazing upgrade. Hold on another year, and it'll be an out-of-this-world upgrade.

That's me too. I'm gonna get quite an upgrade from the iPhone 6S Plus I've had for almost 4 years...

While I see a lot of recent iPhone X-generation iPhones... I still see PLENTY of home-button iPhones... 6's and 7's mostly.

There are tons of potential upgraders out there.

I'm already predicting the "iPhone Shortage" stories coming in a couple weeks... along with the endless articles debating the reasons...

 

[0989382]

That's me too. I'm gonna get quite an upgrade from the iPhone 6S Plus I've had for almost 4 years...

While I see a lot of recent iPhone X-generation iPhones... I still see PLENTY of home-button iPhones... 6's and 7's mostly.

There are tons of potential upgraders out there.

I'm already predicting the "iPhone Shortage" stories coming in a couple weeks... along with the endless articles debating the reasons...

My SE was internally your 6S, and the speed improvement on the XR, fluidness of the navigation, huge, vivid, bright display... you're going to be in for a treat whichever model you go for. The OLED on the XS is even more spectacular, ant noticeable (from seeing my friends XS/Xs).

Basically, get your new X-style upgrade, keep it for as long as you've kept your 6S and you'll always have upgrades to look forward to more than most. I'm going to keep my XR for at least 3 years (maybe 5 with how Apple's been talking lately) and possibly be in your situation in years to come. And watch these events in excitement for those who are buying them now.

 

[iSunrise]

I don't get people that want this bilateral wireless-charging nonsense. First, it is going to make your battery to wear out even faster and efficiency on the Samsung phones is terrible to say the least. So why would you include stuff that is barely usable? That's not Apple's way at all.

What I can understand is that there is not a major change other than maybe the radio or the camera (AR here we come), so Apple just paves the way for it sooner rather than later.

So, this is my expected list of changes:

- A13 SoC (2,66GHz)
- New R13 Co-processor (like M13) to save on battery for certain calculations
- Increased RAM size (4GB and probably 6GB on high-end)
- Bigger battery (more mAh)
- Third camera lens and better cameras overall
- Low-distance radio technology (AR)
- Water resistance upped (IP68)
- Better shatter resistance (glass and body)
- Better (faster) charging
- Maybe more colors (could be reserved for XR phones)

Everything else is just a plus.

 

[PickUrPoison]

I really don't mind what features they add as long as it's another step forward. I've been hoping to update from my 8+, maybe this will cause the XS to drop in price. A drastically improved camera would likely make me get this revision.

I dont mind which port it has either. I'm kind of surprised Apple haven't just released a faster, backwards compatible version of lightning.

The camera improvements should be significant, but may not be the drastic improvement that would entice you.

re: faster Lightning, USB 3 is supported but Apple has only used it in iPad Pro so far. Lightning also supports USB-PD on iPhone (since 2017 with the iPhone 8/X) at up to 18W when used with a USB-C —> Lightning cable and a USB-C charger (which also needs to be USB-PD compatible).

Maybe Apple will support USB 3 on iPhone but I doubt it; so few would benefit from 5Gbps. Apple could also increase the 18W max charging wattage but I really don’t expect that either. But who knows.

 

[sammy2066]

https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2019/9/4/naming-iphones

This might help shed some light on the whole naming trend with the iPhones. It's nowhere near as random or as haphazard as you make it out to be, though I admit there is probably no right approach to this.

Thanks. That just seems like someone's analysis and an opinion based on that analysis. In my view, they still broke a logical naming trend after the iPhone 7. I forgot to mention regular vs. roman numerals in my initial post. Nice signature.

 

[Abazigal]

Thanks. That just seems like someone's analysis and an opinion based on that analysis. In my view, they still broke a logical naming trend after the iPhone 7. I forgot to mention regular vs. roman numerals in my initial post. Nice signature.

If you ask me, they broke it with the iPhone 7, which was essentially a rehash of the iPhone 6 and 6s. Apple follows a trend when it's convenient for them but will not hesitate to break away from it when it longer serves their purpose. Just look at the current iPad naming convention.

 

[sammy2066]

All the innovation, or (massive) lack thereof shall be revealed in just under six hours.

 

[Michael Scrip]

My SE was internally your 6S, and the speed improvement on the XR, fluidness of the navigation, huge, vivid, bright display... you're going to be in for a treat whichever model you go for. The OLED on the XS is even more spectacular, ant noticeable (from seeing my friends XS/Xs).

Basically, get your new X-style upgrade, keep it for as long as you've kept your 6S and you'll always have upgrades to look forward to more than most. I'm going to keep my XR for at least 3 years (maybe 5 with how Apple's been talking lately) and possibly be in your situation in years to come. And watch these events in excitement for those who are buying them now.

Yep! I'm excited. I'm considering the iPhone 11 Pro Max since I plan on keeping it for a while.

That's one way to combat these insane prices: keep it longer. The longer you keep it... the better value it becomes.

I think I've saved enough money by not upgrading frequently to splurge on the biggest baddest iPhone today!

I'll be using my carrier payment plans anyway. The extra $15/month between the 11 and 11 Pro Max won't kill me.

 

[Gutwrench]

So quite literally if Kuo is to be believed, the only possibly innovative thing Apples done is they’ve ripped off someone else’s idea about the tiles and will market it themselves..

Not really expecting much at all today then. What ‘Pro’ devices they are

The only thing that today’s event will do is make the XS and XS Max and XR worthy upgrades for people, no point buying the new ones it seems.

Don’t forget the innovative Apple Card. People were falling all over themselves to apply and post their awesome credit limit, rate, and the impressions the wait service had when they flopped it out at Burger King.

 

[sammy2066]

So next year, we will likely see the iPhone 11 S Pro Max? Might as well be iPhone 11 S Quid Quo Pro Bro Max? Getting out of hand.