Neil Hughes
The success of this year's "iPhone 7" could depend largely on Apple's ability to convince a growing number of users on pre-iPhone 6 models that it's time to finally upgrade, one analyst believes.
Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray issued a note to investors on Monday after Apple officially announced its Sept. 7 media event. There, the company is expected to unveil its 2016 iPhone, featuring a tweaked design with improved cameras, and without a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack.
Munster estimates that among the current iPhone install base, some 275 million users are on devices more than two years old. Those are potential customers using handsets with screen sizes of 4 inches and smaller, who could be key customers to entice into upgrading to a larger display.
It's expected that this year's "iPhone 7" will feature the same screen sizes of 4.7 inches for the base model, and 5.5 inches for the larger "Plus" model. Beyond the removal of the headphone jack, improved cameras — including a new dual-lens design for the "iPhone 7 Plus" — are expected to be the main selling point.
Munster suggested that investor expectations for the so-called "iPhone 7" are low. As a result, he believes any unexpected announcements or features unveiled next week — Â such as an improvement in battery life over the current iPhone 6s series — could help propel shares of AAPL higher.
In his view, Apple has "two shots on goal" over the next year: First, the "iPhone 7" this fall, followed by an anticipated major redesign of the iPhone for its 10th anniversary next year.
In all, Munster has forecast sales of 234.5 million iPhones in Apple's fiscal year 2017. He believes about 150 million of those will be of the new flagship "iPhone 7" series.
But the 2017 redesign could result in a "super-cycle," he said, representing a more meaningful hardware update and attracting device owners with older devices.
All will be revealed next Wednesday at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern, when Apple will announce its fall product lineup. AppleInsider will be there live in San Francisco at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium with full coverage of the keynote presentation and hands-on impressions with any new products.
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17 Comments
To be honest, statements by "analysts" are not even worthy of being given a headline, due to how inaccurate and clueless they have proved themselves to be, time after time.
Wasn't this the analyst who was claiming that Apple would be releasing an Apple TV (a real tv, not the little black box) for many years?
Gene Munster with Piper Jaffray sees Apple's full-fledged television set retailing between $1,500 and $2,000, with screen sizes between 42 inches and 55 inches.
What a bunch of crap.
I too can smoke some questionable substance and make up wild stories, where's my headline? :#
Well at least we already know what the reaction to any sales pitch by Apple will be on sites like AI, 9TO5Mac, MacRumors, etc. It is 100% predictable and written in stone that Apple centric website reaction will be negative and derogatory, depressing and disappointing, gloomy and lethargic. After all curved screens, iris scanners, useless features are the rage for the innovation crowd. Who cares if the battery lasts longer if it doesn’t have a curved screen, right?
"Gene Munster with Piper Jaffray sees Apple's full-fledged television set retailing between $1,500 and $2,000, with screen sizes between 42 inches and 55 inches. " Say What??? Their Computers cost more than that...and I would guess if it is state of the art and they make at least a 75" set it would be 3-4X that much! Sony is coming out with a 75" set that will retail for $9K!!!
Still using my 5S sans case. I'll be motivated to upgrade when it breaks.