Well-known TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has commented on Apple's antenna plans for the 2019 and 2020 iPhones in a new report - "big changes" are coming.
In a new note to investors, star analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports on a new antenna technology. Apple's supply chain plays a major role in this. According to Kuo, the 2019 iPhones will feature "major changes" in the antenna structures due to a change in supplier and technology. Kuo explains that the 2019 iPhones will ship with a new PI antenna structure - a claim - that he first made in November 2018 and is now repeating it. According to Kuo, the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR have disadvantages due to their LCP antenna technology (Liquid Crystal Polymer). On the one hand, the production of this is very complicated and on the other hand, there is a lack of suppliers.
5G technology in 2020
The switch to a modified PI antenna structure in the 2019 iPhones is expected to bring both cost and production improvements for Apple. For consumers, performance remains essentially the same when it comes to 4G LTE. The 2019 iPhone is also expected to boast better reception indoors. Due to this major change, the supplier Career is expected to lose further orders - according to Kuo, Apple will not place any further orders for the upcoming iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. Finally, Kuo comments on the upcoming sales figures. According to this, iPhone shipments are expected to stagnate in the second half of 2019 compared to the previous year. He also confirms that the 2020 iPhones will be delivered with 5G technology. The modems for iPhones 2020 are said to come from Qualcomm.
