Apple To Add 5G to 2020 iPhones to Compete With Android

A new note by Apple’s analyst Ming-Chi Kuo written to investors states that the three iPhones expected to launch in 2020 will integrate support for 5G. Also, Kuo’s previous reports said that the 2020 iPhones could come in new shapes and sizes: 5.4 and 6.7-inch high-end iPhones with OLED displays, and a 6.1-inch model with an OLED display.

Moreover, previous reports from Kuo argued that two of the three new iPhones set for 2020 would support 5G. According to Kuo, Apple will try to compete with well-spec’d Androids on the market by offering 5G in all models. Also, by acquiring Intel’s smartphone modem chip business, the company will be able to invest more resources into developing the 5G iPhone

The report, leaked to MacRumors, also highlighted:

We now believe that all three new 2H20 iPhone models will support 5G for the following reasons. (1) Apple has more resource for developing the 5G iPhone after the acquisition of Intel baseband business. (2) We expect that the prices of 5G Android smartphones will decline to $249-349 USD in 2H20. We believe that 5G Android smartphones, which will be sold at $249-349 USD, will only support Sub-6GHz. But the key is that consumers will think that 5G is the necessary function in 2H20. Therefore, iPhone models which will be sold at higher prices have to support 5G for winning more subsidies from mobile operators and consumers’ purchase intention. (3) Boosting 5G developments could benefit Apple’s AR ecosystem.

All three 2020 iPhone versions are expected to support both mmWave and Sub-6GHz spectrum (two different kinds of 5G) for the U.S. market. However, it is still unclear whether the company will choose to launch a 5G iPhone that only supports Sub-6GHz, at a lower price, suitable for the Chinese market.

On its 2020 5G iPhones, Apple will use modem chips from Qualcomm, while working on its own modem chips, scheduled for 2021.