Apple Hopes To Sell 80 Million New ‘5G-Enabled’ iPhones Despite Pandemic Production Delays

Social media users were quick to lampoon the first leaked images of Apple’s new iPhone 12 series, with some complaining that the new camera array “looks like my stove”.  But despite all of the logistical disruptions caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, Apple is apparently still planning to roll out its first batch of 5G-compatible phones and devices.

One day after Apple’s shares powered higher on Monday following a 4-for-1 stock split, the company’s comms department has strategically leaked details about its upcoming product slate to Bloomberg. And just like that, all those jokes about “trypophobia” have been immediately forgotten, as consumers focus on several key product offerings, including a new generation of air pods, and a new set of lower-end Apple Watches – a surprise smash hit in the company’s product line – intended to compete with FitBit.

Source: BGR

While Wall Street analysts question the notion that the rollout of 5G will create a new smartphone-sales ‘supercycle’, Apple is going all-in, reportedly ordering 75 million 5G iPhones to be shipped during the 2020 holiday shopping system. Apple insiders told BBG that the company expects as many as 80 million units, more than they sold during 2019, the year the post-GFC boom peaked – and a year when sales already started to show some weakness, which Apple – to its credit – telegraphed months in advance.

Source: BGR

The cheaper iPhone 12 models will launch at an unspecified date in October, followed by the iPhone 12 Pro phones in November. Thanks to production delays caused by COVID-19, the iPhone 12 Pro models will hit stores even later in the season than the iPhone X did in 2017 (the company’s pioneering ‘premium’ phone hit stores on Nov. 3, 2017).

In another bullish indicator, during preparation for the annual production ramp, Foxconn published several notices on WeChat over the past month recruiting workers for its main iPhone campus in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou.

Of course, only time will tell whether Apple is being overly ambitious here. Apple’s share price is absurdly durable, but if history has taught us anything, it’s that investors truly are sensitive to any signs that sales are faltering (remember that time Apple cut its Q1 sales guidance for the first time in years, triggering a selloff that nearly took down the entire market?).

That’s one reason why Apple CEO Tim Cook has been so determined to promote the company’s services revenue as a key driver for future growth.

Here’s a breakdown of all the new products featured in the latest piece from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and Debbie Wu.

• Apple plans to mark the official rollout of 5G with four new models of iPhone featuring a heavily updated design and a wider choice of screen sizes. For the first time, the four new phones will be split into two basic and two high-end models: all will feature OLED displays with improved color and clarity. The two regular handsets will come in new 5.4-inch and a 6.1-inch options. The “Pro”-banded phones will offer a choice of  6.1-inch or an enlarged 6.7-inch display, which will be the largest ever on an iPhone. All the new phones will have updated designs featuring squared edges similar to the iPad Pro. The high-end phones will continue to use stainless steel edges versus, while the cheaper phones will feature aluminum sides. The company is also planning a new dark blue color option for the Pro models, which will replace the Midnight Green of 2019’s iPhone 11 Pro line.
• As virtual reality becomes more popular,  the larger of the new “Pro” phones will feature the same LIDAR camera as on the latest iPad Pro. The new camera will allow augmented-reality apps to have a greater understanding of their surrounding environment. They will also feature an A14 processor, which will improve speed and power efficiency.
• As we mentioned earlier, Apple plans to ship the lower-end phones sooner than the Pro devices, which will ship “a few weeks” later than last year’s models, which started shipping Sept. 20.
• A smaller, more affordable HomePad model is also being introduced.
• A new Apple TV box will feature a faster processor for improved gaming.
• Apple is also preparing a new iPad Air with a “Pro-like” screen that will run “edge to edge” on the tablet. According to BGR, a recent leak showed the unreleased table will feature a Touch ID button embedded in the home button.
• The company is launching two new Apple Watch models. The new lineup will include a successor to the popular Apple Watch Series 5, and a new model to replace the Series 3 which will compete with FitBit and other budget-friendly devices.
• Apple will introduce its first over-the-ear model of headphones outside the “Beats” brand.
• Finally, Apple is expected to unveil its “AirTags” trackers, which will come with a leather carrying case.

It’s one of the boldest slates of new product offerings we’ve seen from Apple in years. Washington’s decision to crimp Huawei’s access to microchips and processors needed for its popular handsets has effectively knee-capped one of Apple’s biggest international rivals.

In one interesting tidbit from the Bloomberg story, some Apple employees tasked with testing the new devices found that some of the current 5G networks are not improving connection speeds much, if at all.

But will that be enough to bolster the Cupertino tech giant’s sales at such a delicate time? We’ll need to wait and see.

Despite growing concerns that fundamentals won’t support such rapidly price appreciation, analysts at Bank of America raised their price target on Apple’s newly-riven shares to $140 – 33x the bank’s C21E EPS of $4.27 – as analysts have no choice but to chase price higher.