Top Apple analyst spills details on 5G iPhone, antenna challenges

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2020 could be Apple's greatest year so far
Are you excited about the arrival of 5G iPhones?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Ever reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the upcoming 5G iPhones will support both mmWave and sub-6GHz bands. This will allow them to interoperate effectively with 5G cell towers all across the United States.

He also notes that an increasing number of iPhones will ship with the Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) antenna design. This first debuted with the iPhone X. The antenna works well at different temperatures with little loss. That makes it a good candidate for 5G.

As more iPhones are equipped with LCP FPC, Kuo thinks Apple could face challenges in sourcing components. Right now, manufacturer Murata is Apple’s only supplier for the advances antenna parts used in devices like the iPhone 11 Pro.

“The greatest challenge for Apple’s FPC procurement strategy in 2020 is to find new LPC FPC suppliers who can offer massive stable shipments, besides Murata,” Kuo writes. He thinks that the proportion of iPhones shipping with LCP FPC will increase to 70-75% in 2020 versus 45-50% this year.

According to previous reports, all three new 2020 iPhones shipping next fall will have 5G capabilities. Analyst Kuo also claims that the new 5G iPhones will boast iPhone 4-inspired metal frames. It is also likely that Apple will switch to using OLED screens in all three models of its handsets.

In other words, if you’ve been holding out for a new iPhone, next year’s iPhone could be the one for you.

Source: 9to5Mac and Apple Insider

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