5G iPhone could be thicker and pricier than its predecessor

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2020 could be Apple's greatest year so far
How much would you pay for a 5G iPhone?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Everyone’s excited at the possibility of a 5G iPhone next year — but the next-gen connectivity will come at a price. Both literally and figuratively.

According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the new logic board required for 5G could take up approximately 10% more space. This could mean making the iPhone thicker to accommodate. It could also wind up costing Apple 35% more for the component.

The increased size of the board would be caused by the heat dissipation requirements, plus the circuitry for the new antenna tech.

The 35% component increase, meanwhile, would refer to just that board. However, other Ming-Chi Kuo reports on the iPhone 2020 have suggested other price increases. For example, he has suggested that the new iPhone 4-inspired metal frame could increase costs by between 50% and 60%. Meanwhile, other changes like OLED screens in all three models will ramp up prices.

Personally, I’d be happy with a slightly thicker iPhone if it means incorporating 5G technology. With Jony Ive out of Apple, it seems the company is no longer quite so obsessed with making each new iPhone thinner than the previous year’s. This year’s iPhone 11, for instance, was thicker and heavier than its predecessor. However, in exchange for this users got considerably more battery life.

The pricing issue is an interesting one, though. Apple has been ramping up its average selling price for the iPhone for a few years now. It has done this to continue raking in revenue at a time when unit sales are falling. Giving more for more (more features for more money) is a very classic Apple move, harking back to the heyday of the Mac. But it may also be too much for customers balking at spending $1,000+ on a phone.

How much would you be willing to pay for a 5G iPhone? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Apple Insider

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