Sure, the iPhone 13 just went on sale, but it’s time to look ahead. In a note to clients — as noted by 9to5Mac — analyst Ming Chi-Ku weighs in on the iPhone 14 and beyond.
iPhone 14
Kuo predicts that the iPhone 14 will feature a new punch-hole display design and a 48MP camera in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models.
The article notes that the iPhone 14 lineup is expected to be available in two different screen sizes: 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches. This could come in the form of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max, then the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Kuo says that only the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will get the new hole-punch design, while the other models will seemingly retain the notch.
iPhone 15
Kuo thinks the iPhone 15 in 2023 will add under-display Touch ID. This matches predictions from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. In his August 22 Power On newsletter, he said that Apple considered adding Touch ID to the iPhone 13, but those plans have been delayed. Still, he says the ultimate goal is to add this feature to smartphones along with under-the-display Face ID.
iPhone 16
Looking ahead to 2023, Kuo thinks that will be the year that Apple debuts a foldable iPhone. He’s previously said that such a smartphone could come with a screen size between 7.5 and 8 inches.
“Could” is the key word. Kuo says production hasn’t gotten underway and that the arrival of such a device depends on how things progress with “key technology and mass production issues” that are currently causing the firm problems.
Back to the present
But back to 2021: Kuo says pre-orders for the iPhone 13 series “are higher than those for the iPhone 12 series,” but still “in line with market expectations.” He expects iPhone shipments to increase by 5% year-over-year in 2020 and 16% year-over-year in 2021, respectively, benefiting from 5G demand and the US’s ban on Huawei.
However, he adds that Apple’s smartphone shipment growth could slow in 2022 and 2023 despite the introduction of new features.
The accompanying iPhone 14 mock-up is courtesy of Techspot.
