Other 2020 OLED iPhones: 5.4" & 6.7" pixel density calculations.

[EugW]

Ming-Chi Kuo states that there will be three sizes of iPhones in late 2020, 5.4", 6.1", and 6.7". That means only the 6.1" size model stays the same size, although it would change to OLED. Note that this does not include the rumoured low cost phone possibly coming in early 2020.

https://www.macrumors.com/2019/06/17/5-4-inch-and-6-7-inch-iphones-2020-kuo/

I'm thinking they would keep the various display point resolutions the same as existing models, but would change the pixel densities:

Small 2020 flagship iPhone
375x812 display points
At x3, it would be 1125x2436
1125x2436 / 498 ppi (eg. Samsung Note 10+) = 2.26x4.89", which means a diagonal of 5.4".

Large 2020 flagship iPhone
414x896 display points
At x3, it would be 1242x2688
1242x2688 / 440.58 (eg. Google Pixel 2) = 2.82x6.10", which means a diagonal of 6.7".

That means they would actually have to decrease the pixel density for the large phone to reach 6.7", although the change wouldn't be much so it's fine. OTOH, they could go with a super high pixel density with a x4 multiplier to 1656x3584, which would be getting closer to 4K, but I think that is unnecessary in such a phone. Or else they could change the number of display points on-screen, but I don't think that is necessary either.

Apart from that, I just hope they can manage lower levels of PWM flickering for those who are sensitive.

 

[TheRealAlex]

Apple is a Samsung customer, period NO ONE believed me in 2015/2016 when I said Samsung make a 6.5” Note OLED Display and Apple will release a Huge 6.5” IPhone

And now Samsung offers a HUGE 6.8” or 6.7” depending on how you measure the Curve or not. And they call it the Note 10 Plus.

Apple has purchased a huge quality of OLED Panels form Samsung. And either this year or next Apple will offer a 6.7” or 6.8” iPhone 11 Pro MAX (and maybe Ben have 120Hz or 90Hz) Display like the iPad Pro

 

[EugW]

I guess in terms of size, this 5.4” OLED iPhone negates the need for my hypothesized 5.5” LCD with Face ID, similar to the XR.

It doesn’t address cost but the rumoured revamped iPhone 8 with A13 for 2020 Q2 would address that market. However, I personally prefer the idea of a 5.5” LCD XR clone with Face ID, since it eliminates one orphaned aspect ratio. Furthermore, it would be about the size of the iPhone 8, but with much bigger screen.

I guess the hypothetical 5.5” LCD model with Face ID isn’t cheap enough, and the 4.7” revamped iPhone 8 captures the market that prefers that 16:9 screen without notch.

 

[CrazyForCashews]

Really hope that 5.4" premium iPhone is still in the works despite the new rumours of that refreshed 4.7" iPhone 8.

 

[44267547]

^. Reference the above post, what we know, is that there will be a new/revised smaller iPhone in a more compact form factor. It won’t necessarily resemble a ‘4 inch display’ that others have been requesting for quite some time, simply because Face ID likely couldn’t be implemented into something that small. But, then again, it’s been rumored Apple is transitioning to using touch ID under the display. So there’s been a lot of mixed theories that Apple could use touch ID under the display _and_ Face ID, and/or one or the other in various iPhone models.

 

[BoricuaHec01]

I'll sit back and enjoy the ride during the next year.

 

[PerfectDB]

“they could go with a super high pixel density with a x4 multiplier to 1656x3584, which would be getting closer to 4K, but I think that is unnecessary in such a phone.”

Probably a long shot, maybe such a high resolution display is for Apple’s rumoured AR headset (sort of like Samsung’s old Galaxy Gear VR headsets).

Might also explain the rumoured emphasis on AR for the rear cameras (including the time-of-flight sensor).[/QUOTE]

 

[gadget123]

This is why I am going for the XR this year. Why buy a XS and then downsize next year? The motto is get a bigger screen with the LCD next year and move to OLED again next year

 

[EugW]

This is why I am going for the XR this year. Why buy a XS and then downsize next year? The motto is get a bigger screen with the LCD next year and move to OLED again next year

What phone are you moving from?

Last year I considered upgrading from my 7 Plus, but the lower density screen and the single-lens camera of the XR would have been a downgrade. The XS was too small yet expensive, and the Max cost way too much to get more than 64 GB.

So I kept my 128 GB 7 Plus. And then I will keep my 7 Plus again this year, and will upgrade to an OLED iPhone in 2020 with base 128 GB storage and 5G.

I did upgrade my wife from her 6s to the 128 GB XR though, so no aspects of the swap were downgrades. The pixel density was the same but everything else was an upgrade.

BTW, it seems the XR was not a roaring success in terms of expected sales. Hopefully the dual-lens camera in 2019 should make its replacement more attractive this year.

 

[gadget123]

What phone are you moving from?

Last year I considered upgrading from my 7 Plus, but the lower density screen and the single-lens camera of the XR would have been a downgrade. The XS was too small yet expensive, and the Max cost way too much to get more than 64 GB.

So I kept my 128 GB 7 Plus. And then I will keep my 7 Plus again this year, and will upgrade to an OLED iPhone in 2020 with base 128 GB storage and 5G.

I did upgrade my wife from her 6s to the 128 GB XR though, so no aspects of the swap were downgrades. The pixel density was the same but everything else was an upgrade.

BTW, it seems the XR was not a roaring success in terms of expected sales. Hopefully the dual-lens camera in 2019 should make its replacement more attractive this year.

I sold my XS I loved the size but worry the 6.1 is too big but I would ratger go for a larger phone in 2019 and 2020 cycles than invest in the new XS and have to downsize next year.

 

[44267547]

This is why I am going for the XR this year. Why buy a XS and then downsize next year? The motto is get a bigger screen with the LCD next year and move to OLED again next year

Considering that Apple is actually migrating to all OLED displays in 2020, not sure that LCD displays will be offered, (aside from what’s already in their lineup).

https://www.macrumors.com/2019/08/2...s-from-chinas-boe-for-2020-iphone-lineup/amp/

 

[EugW]

I sold my XS I loved the size but worry the 6.1 is too big but I would ratger go for a larger phone in 2019 and 2020 cycles than invest in the new XS and have to downsize next year.

I don't understand.

Why are you talking about downsizing from the XS? From 5.8" 2019 to 5.4" 2020?

 

[Seanm87]

What phone are you moving from?

Last year I considered upgrading from my 7 Plus, but the lower density screen and the single-lens camera of the XR would have been a downgrade. The XS was too small yet expensive, and the Max cost way too much to get more than 64 GB.

So I kept my 128 GB 7 Plus. And then I will keep my 7 Plus again this year, and will upgrade to an OLED iPhone in 2020 with base 128 GB storage and 5G.

I did upgrade my wife from her 6s to the 128 GB XR though, so no aspects of the swap were downgrades. The pixel density was the same but everything else was an upgrade.

BTW, it seems the XR was not a roaring success in terms of expected sales. Hopefully the dual-lens camera in 2019 should make its replacement more attractive this year.

Based on what? I thought it has been the best selling iPhone every day since it launched?

 

[EugW]

Based on what? I thought it has been the best selling iPhone every day since it launched?

Apple's iPhone unit sales appear to have dropped significantly. Revenues didn't fare as bad, because of the new higher priced OLED iPhones, but nonetheless, investors have been unimpressed. IOW, their new product line including two higher priced OLED phones did not help them grow unit sales and grow revenue. Yes, the XR was the best seller of the bunch, but all evidence is still that it performed well under expectations.

Part of the reason may be because everyone got new cheap batteries for their existing iPhones in that battery replacement program, but I attribute it more to the OLED models' ridiculous pricing, along with the unnecessary crippling of the XR with a single-lens camera with incomplete portrait mode. In fact, those reasons are exactly why I skipped 2018.

Forbes: Disappointing iPhone XR Sales Force Apple's Latest Decision

Apple is cutting its current production plan for new iPhones by about 10% for the next three months in a sign that the U.S. smartphone maker is expecting a further hit this year, just a week after its market-shaking revelation that it would miss revenue forecasts at the end of 2018.

Apple late last month asked its suppliers to produce fewer of its new iPhones than planned for the January-March quarter, sources with knowledge of the request told the Nikkei Asian Review. It is the second time in two months that the U.S. company has trimmed its planned production for the flagship device.

 

[gadget123]

I don't understand.

Why are you talking about downsizing from the XS? From 5.8" 2019 to 5.4" 2020?

I mean I have a XS in 2018 and I plan on going for the iPhone 11R which is 6.1" in 2019 and in 2020 to a 6.1" OLED screen this way I don't have to buy the 11 pro 5.8" to this year to then next year downgrade to a 5.4" screen in 2020

 

[JPack]

Based on what? I thought it has been the best selling iPhone every day since it launched?

XR is the best selling iPhone compared to XS and XS Max. That was expected and confirmed by Apple.

But in terms of unit sales, many analysts were hoping the XR would bring in a replacement wave, similar to iPhone 6. But based on unit sales estimates, XR hasn't lived up to expectations.

 

[EugW]

I mean I have a XS in 2018 and I plan on going for the iPhone 11R which is 6.1" in 2019 and in 2020 to a 6.1" OLED screen this way I don't have to buy the 11 pro 5.8" to this year to then next year downgrade to a 5.4" screen in 2020

Why does buying a 5.8" iPhone 11 Pro in 2019 mean having to get a 5.4" iPhone 12 Pro in 2020? If you want a bigger screen in 2020 then just keep your 2019 5.8" iPhone 11 Pro in 2020, or else get the bigger 2020 6.1" iPhone 12.

 

[gadget123]

Why does buying a 5.8" iPhone 11 Pro in 2019 mean having to get a 5.4" iPhone 12 Pro in 2020? If you want a bigger screen in 2020 then just keep your 2019 5.8" iPhone 11 Pro in 2020, or else get the bigger 2020 6.1" iPhone 12.

True but why wait about now we know Apple’s roadmap. Also saves some money this year too.

 

[EugW]

True but why wait about now we know Apple’s roadmap. Also saves some money this year too.

That doesn't make much sense. But whatever, your money.

 

[gadget123]

That doesn't make much sense. But whatever, your money.

Well I wouldn't be buying a 5.4" pro in 2020 the other one would be too big at 6.7".

 

[EugW]

Well I wouldn't be buying a 5.4" pro in 2020 the other one would be too big at 6.7".

My point was if your favourite size is 5.8" then buy 5.8", and if 2020 brings sizes you don't like, then you don't have to buy anything at all in 2020. If you really want to save money, then just keep the 2019 model you prefer anyway.

I mean you can buy whatever you want of course, but it sounds like you're going through mental gymnastics to justify purchase decisions.

 

[44267547]

Well I wouldn't be buying a 5.4" pro in 2020 the other one would be too big at 6.7".

Pro applies to the triple lens camera/Super-wide-angle (Well, in all likeliness that’s how Apple will differentiate the top-tier iPhone.) Point is, I doubt the 5.4 inch iPhone will boast the triple lens camera, because the price point has to be reflective depending what they will charge for a mid-grade iPhone of that size.

 

[EugW]

Pro applies to the triple lens camera/Super-wide-angle (Well, in all likeliness that’s how Apple will differentiate the top-tier iPhone.) Point is, I doubt the 5.4 inch iPhone will boast the triple lens camera, because the price point has to be reflective depending what they will charge for a mid-grade iPhone of that size.

It depends. It's always possible the 5.4" model will be a premium iPhone, whereas the 6.1" is the budget version. However, I agree there is a less compelling argument for that if the 6.1" version in 2020 is OLED too. I guess it depends on what kind of OLED, and what other features it sports.

Back in 2018, I had envisioned this product line for 2019:

5.5" A13 LCD budget iPhone, with Face ID, 3 GB RAM, LTE, and single-lens camera
5.8" A13 OLED flagship iPhone, with Face ID, 4 GB RAM, LTE, and dual-lens camera
6.1" A13 LCD budget iPhone, with Face ID, 3 GB RAM, LTE, and single-lens camera
6.5" A13 OLED flagship iPhone, with Face ID, 4 GB RAM, LTE, and dual-lens camera

And then in 2020, perhaps it would go to this line:

5.5" A14 LCD budget iPhone, with Face ID, 4 GB RAM, 5G, and dual-lens camera
5.8" A14 OLED flagship iPhone, with Face ID, 6 GB RAM, 5G, and triple-lens camera
6.1" A14 LCD budget iPhone, with Face ID, 4 GB RAM, 5G, and dual-lens camera
6.5" A14 OLED flagship iPhone, with Face ID, 6 GB RAM, 5G, and triple-lens camera

However, it appears what we may be getting is something like this in 2019 and early 2020:

4.7" A13 LCD budget iPhone, with Touch ID, 3 GB RAM, LTE, and single-lens camera
5.8" A13 OLED flagship iPhone with Face ID, 6 GB RAM, LTE, and triple-lens camera
6.1" A13 LCD budget iPhone with Face ID, 4 GB RAM, LTE, and dual-lens camera
6.5" A13 OLED flagship iPhone with Face ID, 6 GB RAM, LTE, and triple-lens camera

And then in late 2020 maybe we'd get:

4.7" A13 60 Hz LCD budget iPhone, with Touch ID, 3 GB RAM, LTE, and single-lens camera (no update)
5.4" A14 120 Hz OLED flagship iPhone with Face ID, 6 GB RAM, 5G, and triple-lens camera
6.1" A14 60 Hz OLED budget iPhone with Face ID, 4 GB RAM, 5G, and dual-lens camera
6.7" A14 120 Hz OLED flagship iPhone with Face ID, 6 GB RAM, 5G, and triple-lens camera

BTW, as mentioned, I'm not getting a 2019 iPhone. I'm fine with my 2016 5.5" A10 LCD flagship iPhone 7 Plus, with Touch ID, 3 GB RAM, LTE, and dual-lens camera.

In 2020 I will buy either a 6.1" OLED or else a 6.7" OLED, probably the latter if has a better camera. I'd be happy with LCD, but there likely won't be one in those sizes.

 

[MF878]

I have a different theory to yours regarding resolutions/pixel density.

The new 6.1” OLED (6.06”) takes the current 6.5” (6.46”) resolution:
6.06” @ 2688x1242 = ~489ppi (163dpi@3x, note that 326ppi is 163dpi@2x)

The new 5.4” OLED takes the current 5.8” (5.85”) resolution:
5.48” @ 2436x1125 = ~489ppi (same scaling as before)

The new 6.7” (6.67”) OLED takes a new resolution:
6.67” @ 489ppi = ~2964x1368

This brings them all to the same pixel density and back to the original scaling of 163dpi which the XR uses, so that no screen real estate is lost on the smaller 5.4” phone or on the new 6.1” compared to the XR. The new 6.7” merely falls in line for operational consistency and to maximise the benefit of the larger display.

 

[the future]

It depends. It's always possible the 5.4" model will be a premium iPhone, whereas the 6.1" is the budget version. However, I agree there is a less compelling argument for that if the 6.1" version in 2020 is OLED too. I guess it depends on what kind of OLED, and what other features it sports.

Huh? The table in your first post shows that the 5.4 and 6.7 will get 5G, the 6.1 will not. This alone makes absolutely clear which will be the Pros and which the „regular“ 12.