There are a few key indicators that let us all know that fall is coming.
College football is on. Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back. And rumors about the new iPhone are out.
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Apple (AAPL) -) typically releases its flagship in September, but some eagle-eyed analysts are sounding the Slow-Rise alarm that the date could be pushed farther back than some of us are used to. Or was it the Sencha alarm? Or Radar?
Either way, it appears that several analysts have done their homework, claiming that a few major changes could be coming to the iPhone we've grown so used to.
Analysts Call Their Shots On Apple
First, Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan has speculated that supply chain issues in Asia could push back the iPhone's release well into October. Mohan claims we won't see the first iPhones until a "few weeks" after the normal September date we've seen in years past.
Mohan specifically tracked Apple's supply chain via channel checks and speculates the release might not come until the fourth quarter, which encapsulates the holiday months between October-December, when consumer spending is traditionally high.
No other analysts have made this prediction about Apple, however, and Mohan has had a mixed track record seeing the future for the tech giant in the past. In 2018, Mohan predicted an Apple product with a folding screen could be released by 2020, and we still haven't seen anything of the sort. Currently, just Google (GOOG) -) and Samsung (SSNLF) -) produce phones with folding screens, and they've had mixed reception with the masses (it's barely made a dent in iPhone's popularity).
But Mohan isn't the only one with predictions about the forthcoming iPhone 15.
Barclays analyst Tim Long this week predicted that iPhones may be more expensive upon their release compared to past models. The change may be, once again, chalked up to tricky global supply chains. Long's price forecast:
- iPhone 15: $799 (unchanged)
- iPhone 15 Plus: $899 (unchanged)
- iPhone 15 Pro: Up to $1,099 (currently $999)
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Up to $1,299 (currently $1,099)
It's important to note that not all iPhones are expected to be affected; only the Pro and Pro Max, which are typically the higher-power and more advanced models seem to be steeper. But with higher price points may come more impressive features.
Long estimates that the Pro Max may include a new Telephoto lens with periscope technology and zoom capabilities of up to 5-6 times. Currently, iPhone 14 models can zoom to around 3 times.
The Pro and Pro Max models may also include a new USB-C port, which most other Apple products have since switched over to, like the iPad and MacBook. Pro models may also include a titanium outer shell, A17 Bionic chips (which are faster), smaller, less cumbersome bezels, Wi-Fi 6E capabilities, and increased RAM.
Long isn't the only one reporting a potential price hike. Debby Wu and Takashi Mochizuki of Bloomberg reported the possibility earlier in July.
Apple is still expected to announce the new iPhone lineup in September.
