The upcoming iPhone generation will obviously not differ from the current devices, the suspected novelties have been implemented by other manufacturers in 2018. Even old companions fear that Apple is no longer up to date. But is that true?
As always, Apple has officially ignored the Mobile World Congress (MWC) . But you can be sure that scouts of the iPhone manufacturer in Barcelona were traveling to see what the competitors have to offer. The Apple scouts are likely to have noticed how great the interest in the folding smartphones from Samsung and Huawei was that triple cameras in the Android world are now standard and that all competitors are already geared up for the 5G future. What lessons does Apple draw from this? Maybe none or the wrong, fears co-founder Steve Wozniak.
“As far as cell phones are concerned, Apple is done”
Apple has long been a leader in areas such as fingerprint sensors, facial recognition or simply paying by phone, “The Woz” told the business magazine ” Bloomberg “. In other areas such as folding smartphones, Apple is not moving forward and that worries him. Because he really wanted to have such a device. Wozniak sees Apple’s future therefore rather off the iPhone in other techniques and services.
Star designer Philippe Starck, who designed a super yacht for dying Steve Jobs, told the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper , “Apple is done with cell phones – and they know that, so they’re trying their hand at others as well Things; matters.” With folding smartphones you get two products in one, raves the Frenchman. “For the price, the energy consumption and material consumption of a device.”
The “iPhone Fold” may still come
But perhaps the harsh criticism is a bit premature. Because it has never been the company’s goal to be the first to implement a technology – not even under Steve Jobs. Apple’s premise has always been to do something better than anyone else and only then bring it to the market. That was the case with the iPod, with the iPhone and also with the iPad.
In fact, apparently Apple is already working on a folding smartphone, as a patent shows that was released on February 28. According to ” Patently Apple ” it describes how to prevent heating elements from breaking a cold display when it is folded. So it remains to be seen whether Apple should actually write off in terms of folding smartphone. As for the upcoming iPhone, there are more reasons to be pessimistic.
No exciting news
The most well-known and most accurate Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo announced about two weeks ago what he expected. According to him, the new iPhones will essentially look like the current devices. They should still have a Lightning instead of a USB-C port and an improved true-depth camera should recognize again in a display Notch faces. The processor will certainly be stronger and maybe the XR-successor gets more RAM.
Kuo also expects that the case will get a frosted glass look, the new iPhones other devices wirelessly load and at least the XS Max has a triple camera with an additional super-wide-angle lens. According to ” Apple Insider “, the “iPhone XI” could also have a 3D camera on the back.
Maybe the frosted glass look will be unique, otherwise all the above innovations have already been implemented by other manufacturers. Especially Huawei, Apple is a long way ahead. The Mate 20 Pro already offers triple camera and inductive charging on the back of a smartphone . At the end of March, the P30 Pro is expected to come with a triple camera plus a 3D sensor.
5G until 2020
Stay 5G . Apple would probably also like to introduce this year an iPhone that supports the mobile standard of the future. But because the company has broken hopelessly with chip manufacturer Qualcomm , it is now dependent on Intel modems and the sparks only from next year in 5G networks, reported ” Reuters “.
This may not be a major issue in Germany and other European countries, where expansion will hardly begin before 2020. But especially in the US, Japan, South Korea and China, mail is already starting this year. Although normal users will hardly surf there before 2020 with smartphones in the 5G network. But an iPhone lasts at least five years and those who want to buy future-proof should avoid the 2019 devices.
Calculus instead of inability
Apple has apparently switched back on a gear on the iPhone. But that may have less to do with inability than coolness. Steve Wozniak is probably right who he says the company has a bright future away from the iPhone. Tim Cook may not be a visionary like Steve Jobs, but he knows very well what he’s doing and he’s planning ahead.
How Cook restructures and sets priorities in other areas, is clear from an article in ” The Information “. The magazine has the new management structure with the 180 most important Apple managers. It allows us to see which directions Apple wants to develop in the coming years. One focus is augmented reality (AR) , others artificial intelligence (AI) and health. In addition, the company is expanding and expanding its services. Among other things, there will soon be a video streaming service, with the Apple Netflix & Co. would like to compete.
Boring iPhones are better
Even though Apple is no longer all about the iPhone, it remains a hugely important part of the ecosystem there. However, it is no longer important that users buy a new device as often as possible, but that they remain loyal to Apple. In addition, it is now more damaging to constantly install new hardware and software features that are not absolutely necessary, but can lead to errors, vulnerabilities and other problems.
Reliability, stability, durability, security, and simplicity will be more important factors in keeping ecosystem customers happy to use and pay for Apple’s services. And that’s why a boring smartphone that works at a high level and is provided with updates for a long time is not wrong. Maybe the competitors have to learn from Apple later, if they can think of anything.