Apple's iPhone 12 launch with 5G will complete the smartphone equation to make speedier wireless access a reality in the US. And coverage with broader price points will spur upgrades into 2021.
Analysts are expecting the iPhone 12 family--iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max[1]--to all feature 5G. The models are rumored to cover a wide range of price points including the $400 to $700 range[2] where the growth will be.
Now Android devices have been all over 5G[3], but Apple represents the 46% of the market in the US, according to Counterpoint Research. In addition, 5G devices have typically been reserved for the premium market until recently.
Apple's iPhone 12 series will ensure the two leading smartphone platforms are 5G equipped. As a result, analysts are betting on another supercycle for the iPhone, or a once in a decade upgrade cycle.
Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives lays out the 5G upgrade argument for Apple.
Across the board we are seeing an uptick around production and pent up demand for the slate of iPhone 12 models (expecting 4 new models) set to be unveiled next week in this launch event. In particular we are seeing Apple and its Asian suppliers anticipate stepped-up demand for the larger 6.7-inch model which is raising the overall iPhone 12 expectations heading into this "once in a decade" potential launch. We continue to believe the line in the sand a few months ago was between 65 million to 70 million 5G iPhone 12 units and now has moved into the 75 million+ range with 80 million a stretch goal. Importantly, with our estimation that 350 million of 950 million iPhones