Apple is asking its suppliers to build 75 million 5G-ready iPhones for later this year, according to a new report by Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the matter. It"s been expected for some time that the 2020 iPhone models would feature 5G support, including both mmWave and sub-6 support, and the numbers suggest that not only is Apple expecting iPhone sales to remain fairly steady from last year, they also indicate that every iPhone model this year should support the new network standard. However, the report doesn"t mention whether every model will support every kind of 5G.
Bloomberg"s sources shine light on more of Apple"s planned devices, too. According to the report, the company is preparing to launch two new Apple Watch models this year, a first for the lineup. The goal is to introduce a successor to the Apple Watch series 6, as well as an equivalent to the series 3, which will be poised as a cheaper alternative to fend off rivals in the more affordable wearables space.
The iPad Air is also expected to receive a revision, specifically with a design closer to that of the 2018 iPad Pro and newer, meaning smaller bezels all around. The report also mentions Apple"s first over-ear headphones outside of the Beats brand, and a new HomePod, which would be more affordable and smaller than the initial model, but also sacrifice some of the internal speakers of the original.
Apple is expected to unveil its latest generation of iPhones later this year, and by this point, almost everything about the phones has been talked about in leaks. The report reiterates a lot of what we"ve heard before, including the display sizes leaked back in May, the two standard and two Pro models, OLED panels for every model, a design similar to the iPad Pro, and a new dark blue color option. Something that"s missing is the 120Hz display, which is still being considered according to recent reports, but it remains unconfirmed.
One thing that the report also mentions is that while Apple is expected to delay the launch of its new iPhones this year, the OS updates that typically arrive around the same time will still roll out in September.