Dual-lens cameras expected on both Apple's OLED and 5.5" LCD 2017 iPhone models

With Apple apparently gearing up to launch three new iPhones next year, two-thirds of them will include dual-lens camera designs, though users who prefer the 4.7-inch form factor will reportedly be out of luck.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities issued a note to investors on Tuesday, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider, in which he forecast once again that Apple will launch three new iPhone models in 2017: A redesigned OLED version, and two featuring legacy TFT-LCD displays in the 4.7- and 5.5-inch sizes.

Like the current iPhone 7 Plus, the 5.5-inch model coming next year is expected to boast a dual-camera design, as is the OLED version. But according to Kuo, the 4.7-inch size will not gain dual lenses.

Kuo expects that between 65 and 75 percent of new iPhones shipped by Apple next fall will boast dual-camera displays. He predicts that the boost in share will be a boon for Apple supplier Largan, which provides lenses for Apple's dual-camera design.

Even before the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were released, Kuo indicated in September that the two-camera system would remain exclusive to the Plus-sized lineup in 2017. But with the iPhone 7 Plus seeing strong sales so far, he expects more users will gravitate toward larger form factors next year, resulting in a higher share.

Next year, Apple is widely expected to introduce an all-new design featuring a glass back and OLED display for its flagship iPhone, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the revolutionary handset. However, it's expected that the so-called "iPhone 8" will be sold alongside models with traditional LCD displays, potentially earning them the "iPhone 7s" series moniker.

19 Comments

NY1822 620 comments · 8 Years

About 8 years ago

does this guy cover any other stocks...he issues notes daily on Apple

nolamacguy 4750 comments · 10 Years

yeah right. two 5.5" models, but with different screen tech? not gonna happen. apple doesnt toss up differences like these expecting the customer to decide which is better. they instead decide which is better and present it to the customer.

this dude may have access to supply chain leakers, but he has no idea how apple rolls.

paxman 4729 comments · 17 Years

nolamacguy said:

yeah right. two 5.5" models, but with different screen tech? not gonna happen. apple doesnt toss up differences like these expecting the customer to decide which is better. they instead decide which is better and present it to the customer.

this dude may have access to supply chain leakers, but he has no idea how apple rolls.

These rumors will keep morphing right up until the day of release by which time they will mostly be correct. In the meantime they will garner Apple countless millions of free advertising and tech-sites a gazillion clicks. The rumor business is a tricky one. It needs to be finely tuned to keep punters listening and coming back, alternately drooling over what is to come, dismissing the obviously outlandish and deriding their fellow punters for being moronic trolls. I have always been convinced that there is a marketing person at Apple that trawls the rumor sites and releases nuggets of information at key moments when the rumor mill goes askew. :)

ireland 17435 comments · 18 Years

Appreciate you giving him his actual title of analyst and not some floury incarnation. And I agree with @nolamacguy I don't see two 5.5" versions with different screen tech happening. But what do I know. I didn't expect the non-Touch Bar MBP to be so costly. Or as Ars put it, "really expensive, even in the context of past MacBook Pros".

blastdoor 3565 comments · 15 Years

nolamacguy said:

yeah right. two 5.5" models, but with different screen tech? not gonna happen. apple doesnt toss up differences like these expecting the customer to decide which is better. they instead decide which is better and present it to the customer.

this dude may have access to supply chain leakers, but he has no idea how apple rolls.

I definitely agree that it shouldn't happen.

But these days a lot of things that shouldn't happen seem to go ahead and happen anyway.