AppleInsider Staff
Late-week reports from the Asian supply chain continue to suggest that Apple's next-generation iPhone has begun to roll off of assembly lines, with some indications that the forthcoming device will sport a nearly identical outward appearance with slightly tweaked internals.
Primary Apple contract manufacturers Foxconn and Pegatron have begun receiving shipments of components for the so-called "iPhone 6s" from suppliers and sub-assemblers, according to Digitimes. The publication believes that Apple will begin selling the new iPhone in September, and could move up to 50 million of them before the end of this year.
To cope with what is expected to be record demand for Apple's latest handset, many suppliers are rumored to have beefed up manufacturing capabilities at Apple's request.
Relatively little is known about the "iPhone 6s," but it is will likely bear an upgraded A-series processor and could ship with 2 gigabytes of RAM after being stuck at 1 gigabyte for 3 generations. A camera update is also a possibility, as is the addition of pressure-sensing Force Touch capabilities.
Apple could also move to an updated NXP-sourced NFC chip, photos sourced by 9to5Mac suggest, as well as a new Qualcomm modem that would enable faster LTE connections. Externally, the phone is expected to maintain the same industrial design as the iPhone 6, but might add a new rose gold color option.
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
178 Comments
Wrong thread
It is interesting to see that pilot assemblies are already shipping for the next iPhone. Makes me wonder if the debut will be earlier than normal, maybe the end of August.
Apple got a way with 16 GB last year I'm not so sure that will work again. I have a feeling if the entry level 6S/Plus starts at 16GB Apple will have a lot of pised off customers and will lose some good will. When Apple's making $$14-18 billion of profit in a quarter it's pretty obvious they're making a killing off of storage pricing. Good will and happy customers is more important than record profits, margins, ASP's IMO. It's not like Apple is struggling to find cash to invest in R&D and other stuff. Let's not forget the iPhone and iPad came out of an Apple that made far less money than its making today. Heck in the early 2000s there were some quarters where Apple barely turned a profit and even some quarters where they posted small losses. Somehow they were still able to develop the product that is allowing them to post record profits now.
[quote name="Rogifan" url="/t/187055/apples-iphone-6s-again-said-to-be-in-production-as-parts-leaks-continue#post_2743918"]Apple got a way with 16 GB last year I'm not so sure that will work again. I have a feeling if the entry level 6S/Plus starts at 16GB Apple will have a lot of pised off customers and will lose some good will. When Apple's making $$14-18 billion of profit in a quarter it's pretty obvious they're making a killing off of storage pricing. Good will and happy customers is more important than record profits, margins, ASP's IMO. It's not like Apple is struggling to find cash to invest in R&D and other stuff. Let's not forget the iPhone and iPad came out of an Apple that made far less money than its making today. Heck in the early 2000s there were some quarters where Apple barely turned a profit and even some quarters where they posted small losses. Somehow they were still able to develop the product that is allowing them to post record profits now.[/quote] Yes, they keep on saying they put the interest of customers first, but this decision only serves to make Apple more money and has only a negative impact on the user. It doesn't make sense. Make only two models with the minimal at 64 GB, that would be big.
An completely absurd move, considering how popular the 16GB is. Then what? Does the 64GB start at $199 on contract? Great way to eliminate almost all up sells and decimate ASP. I know a ton of people that have absolutely no need for a 64GB, and have been happily on a 16GB iPhone since they were used one. Hell, some people are fine with an 8GB device, yet you're proposing 8 TIMES that as the minimum? Not everyone is in the "Apple Insider" demographic. Hell, the vast majority are not.