Edible Apple

Concord Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who was spot on with his iPad 2 predictions, recently issued a new research note fleshing out more details about the iPhone 5.

From the looks of it, it appears that the iPhone 5 upgrade will be akin to the iPhone 3G to 3GS transition, namely internal spec boosts.

Corroborating previous reports, Kuo claims that the iPhone 5 will sport the same form factor as the iPhone 4 and will come with Apple’s blazing A5 processor and the rumored 8 megapixel camera. Remember, it wasn’t too long ago that Sony CEO Howard Stringer ostensibly told the WSJ that it was supplying Apple with 8 megapixel sensors for the next-gen iPhone. Also on tap for the iPhone 5 will be a Qualcomm baseband with support for both GSM and CDMA networks along with a redesigned, and purportedly more functional, antenna design.

Kuo has also been told that the new iPhone will go into trial production in August and mass production in September, allowing Apple to reach shipment volumes of between 28 million and 32 million units this year. That would align with previous reports that have indicated Apple plans to make its new iPhone available for sale later than usual this year, likely in Apple’s next fiscal year beginning in October.

In other Apple hardware news, Kuo writes that supply shortages as a result of the Japan earthquakes might force Apple to delay the 5th gen iPod Touch, which typically occurs in September.

Aside from the camera upgrade, Kuo writes that the “main selling point” of the iPhone 5 will be iOS 5, which we haven’t heard too much about thus far but should be talked about in-depth at Apple’s WWDC conference scheduled for June.

Lastly, though there have been a number of stories regarding a new form factor for the iPhone, Kuo writes that that’s not likely until the iPhone 6 which, believe it or not, may go on sale as early as the first half of 2012 due to growing competition from Android.

via AppleInsider