14 DAY TRIAL // According to Analyst Brian J. White with Topeka Capital Markets, Apple’s next iPhone will leverage a unibody chassis that will make the device look simply awesome. Which is why he believes people will flock for the new handset when it’s released this year.
There is still a lot of debate as to when the next iPhone will be introduced. Some believe the launch will occur at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) which falls in the June-July timeframe. Others are convinced it will happen sometime in fall, just like the latest iPhone refresh.
And there’s just as much speculation on the hardware front: What will the handset look like? Will it be able to roam on LTE 4G airwaves? Will it have a bigger screen than all iPhones before it.
After meeting with Taiwanese and Chinese component suppliers, analyst Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets is almost certain he has answered all of these questions.
In a research note sent out to clients on Monday, White said the next iPhone will boast a 4-inch screen, 4G LTE connectivity, and a sleek new design thanks to enhancements in the way the chassis is manufactured - machined from a single block of metal, just like the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro cases are made.
"In our view, this will be the most significant iPhone upgrade with a four-inch screen and a new, sleek look that we believe will require a Unibody case," he said in a research note picked up by AppleInsider.
White is convinced that everyone will be sold on the looks first, then on the technical features: "This new, sleek look will be the most important reason that consumers decide to upgrade," White wrote.
White also supports rumors of a “mini” iPad stating that Apple is developing a 7.85-inch tablet. However, he admits that such a device may remain a meagre prototype.