Other 2020 iPhone lineup

[jongriff]

Apple isn’t about to go from three to six flagship phones. That’s a lot more SKU’s, and the demand for smaller phones doesn’t seem to be there to justify two 5.4” models. The most I can see happening is four (two sizes in standard and Pro), and I’m not even sure that’s likely, let alone six.

You’re probably right although in the “Plus” era there were plenty of complaints about people having to buy a large phone just to get the premium features that were only available on the Plus variant so it would be nice to cater for this issue. I know quite a few people who are stubbornly sticking with their SEs because they don’t want a big phone but would gladly hand Apple a lot of money for a premium small phone. I suppose it’s more of a wish than a prediction at this point.

 

[Mutepointer]

Is anyone already looking forward to next year’s iPhone lineup? I am. Leave your comments.

 

[spooky23]

Nah. 2021 for me. Although I might then wait until 2022. Unless the rumours for 2023 are BIG!!

 

[Zxxv]

iOS 13 is a bigger deal for me than this years iPhones though the iPhone 11 does look so far to be a great iPhone for most of the population compared to the iPhone pro

 

[Apple_Robert]

iOS 13 is a bigger deal for me than this years iPhones though the iPhone 11 does look so far to be a great iPhone for most of the population compared to the iPhone pro

I agree. iOS 13 is a game changer. it makes older devices feel new and improved
[doublepost=1568463120][/doublepost]I am looking forward to a smaller phone next year (I hope).

 

[Zxxv]

I agree. iOS 13 is a game changer. it makes older devices feel new and improved
[doublepost=1568463120][/doublepost]I am looking forward to a smaller phone next year (I hope).

A smaller iPhone will be interesting though I have an iPhone XS Max which I’m typing on now. It’s a brilliant one size does everything device. I could almost use it alone for all my computer needs. I have a MacBook Air.

I also have an iPhone SE which every time I pick it up is just about perfect as a phone etc but no way is it ever going to compete with the Xs Max size for a one stop shop computer.

I also have an Apple Watch which I enjoy so much I leave my iPhone Max at home and have all the things I need, audible, Apple Pay etc and that includes not being reachable unless I stumble into a WiFi I joined (I don’t join public ones)
I collect messages and calls etc when I get home. The watch is a breath of fresh air.

The way I see it is apple is always solving then creating more problems then solving them and repeating the cycle. If I could only have one device it’d be the iPhone XS Max as I can do more buissiness work on it.

 

[MF878]

A smaller iPhone will be interesting though I have an iPhone XS Max which I’m typing on now. It’s a brilliant one size does everything device. I could almost use it alone for all my computer needs. I have a MacBook Air.

I also have an iPhone SE which every time I pick it up is just about perfect as a phone etc but no way is it ever going to compete with the Xs Max size for a one stop shop computer.

I also have an Apple Watch which I enjoy so much I leave my iPhone Max at home and have all the things I need, audible, Apple Pay etc and that includes not being reachable unless I stumble into a WiFi I joined (I don’t join public ones)
I collect messages and calls etc when I get home. The watch is a breath of fresh air.

The way I see it is apple is always solving then creating more problems then solving them and repeating the cycle. If I could only have one device it’d be the iPhone XS Max as I can do more buissiness work on it.

What you describe is the experience most people have with bigger phones, I think. Most people are willing to forgive the compromise in portability because the larger display is just a lot more pleasant to get things done with (myself included).

This loops back to my theory about why the new Pros will be 6.1" and 6.7", not 5.4" and 6.7". If the Pro is marketed at people who do the most with their phones and want maximum capability, they are less likely to want a smaller display. We can already see that in the fact that the XS Max sold more than twice as many units as the regular XS. Why on Earth would Apple make the smaller Pro even smaller if it is already the significantly weaker seller, and all the alternatives from competitors are 6"+ anyway?

 

[Ralfi]

I despise the 5.4” rumours. Killing off my 5.8” in the year I was planning to upgrade is a kick to the teeth....

 

[MF878]

I despise the 5.4” rumours. Killing off my 5.8” in the year I was planning to upgrade is a kick to the teeth....

If the new design shaves a little more off the bezel and/or flattens the sides, it’s possible that the 6.1” would be barely any larger in practice. It would be closer to the 5.8” 11 Pro than the 6.1” XR/11 with its thicccc bezels. Plus, the non-rounded measurements are actually 5.85” and 6.06”, so you’re really only talking about 0.21”, not 0.3”.

 

[Bethanie21]

As someone with small hands, it’s always frustrating when Apple limits the ‘best’ features to the bigger phones. The Max phones are simply too big to be practical for me, so I always opt for the smaller premium phone. Not had the X/XS/11 form factor yet, but I should imagine 5.8 will be huge to me! Definitely wouldn’t want to go any bigger.

 

[blairh]

5.4", 6.1", and 6.7" make all the sense in the world to me. (Small, medium, and large.) 5.4" especially is the size millions of people have been clamoring for.

However going Pro at that size would be a mistake IMO. That model will appeal to people for its small and easy to use nature. Many people find the XR/11 to be way too big if they want to upgrade from a 4" or 4.7" iPhone.

Also, I think 'iPhone Mini' would be the perfect name for the 5.4" model.

Instead Apple should release two different models of the 6.1" size. One Pro, one not. And then of course the 6.7" model stays Pro.

iPhone Mini
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max

 

[phillytim]

I've been saying that Apple works on 4 year increments of design, and I don't expect next redesign until 2021:

Gen1: original/3G/3GS

Gen2: 4/4S/5/5S/SE

Gen3: 6/6S/7/8

Gen4: X/XS/11/(11S?-2020, 5G?)

Gen5: 2021-2025 = notch rev or removal, in-screen touch?

 

[MF878]

I've been saying that Apple works on 4 year increments of design, and I don't expect next redesign until 2021:

Gen1: original/3G/3GS

Gen2: 4/4S/5/5S/SE

Gen3: 6/6S/7/8

Gen4: X/XS/11/(11S?-2020, 5G?)

Gen5: 2021-2025 = notch rev or removal, in-screen touch?

Lumping the 4 and 5 into the same design cycle just because they both have flat sides is completely illogical. From an engineering and production standpoint, the 5 is actually much closer to the 6 than the 4.

 

[EssModelsRule]

I’ve always felt the 5.8” size was a compromise because there was no Max variant at launch. The X had to appeal to both 4.7” and 5.5” upgraders. On paper it had a bigger screen than plus models within a footprint only slightly bigger than standard models. In use the plus model fans weren’t satisfied and eagerly dropped $1100+ the very next year on the Max (probably just how Apple planned it). Fans of smaller phones are still living with 5.8” phones or are still hanging on to older and smaller phones.

I hope the 5.4” rumors prove to be true as it would right-size the smaller end for many people in my opinion. For those that truly prefer something in the middle, the 6.1” OLED will be the ticket next year. Win win win.

 

[44267547]

I would buy a 5.4” phone next year. I don’t need a big phone since I have my iPad mini 5. I hope it happens. If not, I will keep using my Max and my SE.

I usually don’t make predictions or claims unless I have a source to back it up, but I’m gonna make a claim without a source now, The purported ‘5.4 inch iPhone’ that is slated to be released likely fall 2020, Will absolutely be sold out/back ordered of all the iPhone models offered next year. Not because it’s just a ‘smaller iPhone’, but it will probably offer a cheaper price point, which is exactly what made the iPhone SE so popular for those two tangents to begin with.

 

[profets]

If the new design shaves a little more off the bezel and/or flattens the sides, it’s possible that the 6.1” would be barely any larger in practice. It would be closer to the 5.8” 11 Pro than the 6.1” XR/11 with its thicccc bezels. Plus, the non-rounded measurements are actually 5.85” and 6.06”, so you’re really only talking about 0.21”, not 0.3”.

Exactly what I was thinking for 6.1 and 6.7 - it could be similar physical sizes to the current iPhone 11 Pro options, but with tighter bezels and the notch getting smaller in size. I'm liking your thoughts here re the possible 5.4 (iPhone) and 6.1, 6.7 (iPhone Pro) for 2020.

I've been saying that Apple works on 4 year increments of design, and I don't expect next redesign until 2021:

Gen1: original/3G/3GS

Gen2: 4/4S/5/5S/SE

Gen3: 6/6S/7/8

Gen4: X/XS/11/(11S?-2020, 5G?)

Gen5: 2021-2025 = notch rev or removal, in-screen touch?

I see what you're saying, but even if you lump the 4 & 5 together, it was still a 3 year stretch from Gen1 (2007) to Gen2 (2010) and from Gen3 (2014) to Gen4 (2017).

 

[atmc]

I've been saying that Apple works on 4 year increments of design, and I don't expect next redesign until 2021:

Gen1: original/3G/3GS

Gen2: 4/4S/5/5S/SE

Gen3: 6/6S/7/8

Gen4: X/XS/11/(11S?-2020, 5G?)

Gen5: 2021-2025 = notch rev or removal, in-screen touch?

what? 4 and 5 series are not the same design.

actually you’ve never been 4 years without a new design being launched. The iPhone X was launched along with iPhone 8.

we don’t know what is going to happen but I suspect we will see a new design for the new Pro and the 11S/12 maintaining the same design language as the current XR/11.

The naming schemas are strange, though. The 8 should have been the 7S and this 11 should have been something else.

But my guess is that we won’t have a 11S Pro iPhone. 4 years with the top of the line maintaining the same design would be a stretch for sales.

 

[MF878]

I usually don’t make predictions or claims unless I have a source to back it up, but I’m gonna make a claim without a source now, The purported ‘5.4 inch iPhone’ that is slated to be released likely fall 2020, Will absolutely be sold out/back ordered of all the iPhone models offered next year. Not because it’s just a ‘smaller iPhone’, but it will probably offer a cheaper price point, which is exactly what made the iPhone SE so popular for those two tangents to begin with.

I doubt it would offer a lower price point. I’d wager the intent behind the smaller size it is to maintain this year’s $699 start price while bringing a high-resolution OLED display down to the “regular” iPhone. It takes away the main drawback of the iPhone XR/11, so the size is a very tangible way of representing a gap between it and the Pro models. Otherwise, what appeal would the Pro models have to 99% of people if the main differences for $300 were literally just cameras and stainless steel? The 11 and XR will stick around as solid mid-range options, and the rumoured iPhone 8-based SE will replace the 8 as the bottom of the lineup with a couple spec bumps (eg. A12 chip)

 

[MF878]

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...th-5g-connectivity-and-oled-displays.2214095/

First rumour I’ve seen that supports the four models idea in my original post 🤔

 

[rdy0329]

There’s one thing you guys might want to keep in mind when it comes to costs. Miniaturisation drives up the cost of R&D and overall bill of materials.

iPhone X featured a dual-layer logic board to accommodate a larger battery.
The XR was based off the iPhone 6-8 layout and it showed by being thicker and heavier than the X.

New tech requires production experience. The XR didn’t get the X’s internal layout most likely because of yield concerns on such a new production process. XR used the iPhone 6-era production line and just swapped LCD style.

Finally, the 2019 iPhones ALL features the iPhone X logic board sandwich which signals maturity of the production process and means it can be made at reasonable cost.

Now, regarding the new 5.4” form factor, they need to rework the board again to be able to fit in a smaller space while still being able to fit a reasonable battery capacity.

Teardowns of this year’s iPhone points towards board stacking as a trend afforded by Apple’s pivot to thicker chassis. We might see a triple-stack logic board once they use newer OLED tech.

I’ll bet the 5.4” won’t come cheap (relatively). It may be positioned as the cheapest Of the three, but it won’t be an XR price positioning as it was before.

Think of it, a new form factor needs reworking of internals and production line revamp in factory floors. Not to mention, it’ll be able to (rumored) do the same things as the Max model, save for a camera (If space won’t allow).

 

[MF878]

Y

There’s one thing you guys might want to keep in mind when it comes to costs. Miniaturisation drives up the cost of R&D and overall bill of materials.

iPhone X featured a dual-layer logic board to accommodate a larger battery.
The XR was based off the iPhone 6-8 layout and it showed by being thicker and heavier than the X.

New tech requires production experience. The XR didn’t get the X’s internal layout most likely because of yield concerns on such a new production process. XR used the iPhone 6-era production line and just swapped LCD style.

Finally, the 2019 iPhones ALL features the iPhone X logic board sandwich which signals maturity of the production process and means it can be made at reasonable cost.

Now, regarding the new 5.4” form factor, they need to rework the board again to be able to fit in a smaller space while still being able to fit a reasonable battery capacity.

Teardowns of this year’s iPhone points towards board stacking as a trend afforded by Apple’s pivot to thicker chassis. We might see a triple-stack logic board once they use newer OLED tech.

I’ll bet the 5.4” won’t come cheap (relatively). It may be positioned as the cheapest Of the three, but it won’t be an XR price positioning as it was before.

Think of it, a new form factor needs reworking of internals and production line revamp in factory floors. Not to mention, it’ll be able to (rumored) do the same things as the Max model, save for a camera (If space won’t allow).

You’re overthinking it. The 5.4” will just use the same board as its 6.1” brother and have a smaller battery capacity as a result, the same way they’ve always handled multiple sizes of the same model. It might end up with a couple hours less battery life but that would still be way ahead of all the 4.7” iPhones that came before.

 

[44267547]

Y


You’re overthinking it. The 5.4” will just use the same board as its 6.1” brother and have a smaller battery capacity as a result, the same way they’ve always handled multiple sizes of the same model. It might end up with a couple hours less battery life but that would still be way ahead of all the 4.7” iPhones that came before.

Having a smaller battery has nothing to do with less battery life. Those two things are not mutually exclusive, Apple has proven that with the A13 processor (Given they did add a thicker battery), but it’s also the extension of having a more efficient processor. It’s not about having a ‘bigger battery’ in every scenario, it’s the internal improvements Apple made that conserve the battery in a more proactive state.

 

[MF878]

Having a smaller battery has nothing to do with less battery life. Those two things are not mutually exclusive, Apple has proven that with the A13 processor (Given they did add a thicker battery), but it’s also the extension of having a more efficient processor. It’s not about having a ‘bigger battery’ in every scenario, it’s the internal improvements Apple made that conserve the battery in a more proactive state.

You did not seriously just say “having a smaller battery has nothing to do with less battery life”. I am not an idiot, I am aware that battery life is about more than just battery capacity. You can make that point without making dumb absolute statements like “having a smaller battery has nothing to do with less battery life”. The comment you replied to wasn’t even talking about power consumption? Are you always this patronising?

Oh wait, you’re the same guy who argued adamantly with me in a thread about 18 months ago that Apple would “never” use the Pro moniker on an iPhone. There’s an absolute statement that didn’t age well...

 

[44267547]

You did not seriously just say “having a smaller battery has nothing to do with less battery life”.

<Snipped> 😁

I did say that.[Actually, I was branching off your battery comment]. Point is, having a smaller battery doesn’t contribute to less battery life (Yes, I’m repeating myself), I think we’re beyond to the point now where the efficiency of processors manage the battery beyond just what the battery life expectancy is (I.e Does a larger battery make a significant impact?). Like I mentioned, look how transitional the A-Series processors have become and how they have improved the battery life. Apple has remarked on this multiple times during their keynotes, that when they discuss briefly about the A-series processors, they correlate that to the battery life being improved. Now, with the elimination of 3D Touch, Apple did make a thicker battery this year in the 11 Pro. But, ‘A bigger battery’ isn’t the answer to everything. It’s mainly a side tangent, but all relative.

 

[MF878]

<Snipped> 😁

I did say that.[Actually, I was branching off your battery comment]. Point is, having a smaller battery doesn’t contribute to less battery life (Yes, I’m repeating myself), I think we’re beyond to the point now where the efficiency of processors manage the battery beyond just what the battery life expectancy is (I.e Does a larger battery make a significant impact?). Like I mentioned, look how transitional the A-Series processors have become and how they have improved the battery life. Apple has remarked on this multiple times during their keynotes, that when they discuss briefly about the A-series processors, they correlate that to the battery life being improved. Now, with the elimination of 3D Touch, Apple did make a thicker battery this year in the 11 Pro. But, ‘A bigger battery’ isn’t the answer to everything. It’s mainly a side tangent, but all relative.

You’re missing my point, I never said it was the answer to everything. Nothing you’re saying is wrong except that battery capacity isn’t relevant, because it IS relevant when most other variables are equal.