It's way too early to talk about the next iPhone

 

 

Analysis

Even though we're still six months away from the next iPhone (which will probably be called the iPhone 7), rumors are already starting to appear about the next iPhone. You know, the one that won't be out until 2017.
I love a good Apple rumor as much as the next person, but this is getting ridiculous.

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The latest report comes from an analyst note from KGI Securities Ming-Chi Kuo obtained by AppleInsider. 
Kuo is reporting that Apple might be moving back to the all-glass design of the iPhone 4/4S, but this time with curved panels on both sides of the device. He further states that Apple will looking to move from IPS screens to AMOLED. Samsung uses AMOLED displays for its products, but Apple has resisted the technology for its phones. It's worth noting that the Apple Watch has an AMOLED screen.
Kuo also says he expects Apple to move from its 5.5-inch screen size for its Plus model phones to 5.8 inches.
To be clear, Kuo has a good track record for Apple rumors — but we still think it's way too early to start talking about an iPhone that is 18 months away, especially in this context.

It's way too early to start talking about an iPhone that is 18 months away

Kuo's note seems to imply that Apple would be doing a significant redesign to its 2017 iPhone. Historically, this just doesn't match Apple's pattern. 
Since the iPhone 3GS was released in 2009, Apple has alternated each year. In even years, phones get a new design (the iPhone 3, iPhone 4, iPhone 5, iPhone 6) and in odd years, the design is kept nearly identical, but with additional features (better speed for the iPhone 3GS, Siri for the iPhone 4S, TouchID for the iPhone 5S, 3D Touch for the iPhone 6S).
It seems unlikely that Apple would deviate from this pattern — especially if the company is already preparing to redesign its flagship phone in six months.
One of the advantages of only refreshing your design every other year is that accessory makers (and users) can get used to the new size and shape. It also allows Apple to reuse materials and components longer, which yields to better margins.

It's too early for this stuff

I have no doubt that Apple already has several generations of its products in the development pipeline, but I also have no doubt that it is too early for us to be talking about a phone that is a year and a half away from existence.
Kuo's supply-chain connections are good, but the basis of this note seems to be primarily speculation and not concise facts.
Even the AMOLED rumor is hedged because Kuo admits he isn't sure if suppliers will have the capacity to make AMOLED screens in the quantity Appel would require. A previous Kuo note said not to expect AMOLED iPhone devices until 2019 at the earliest.
We just got a new 4-inch iPhone and iPhone 7 rumors are just starting to take off. Can we seriously chill on iPhone 7S rumors? Like, seriously.
In fact, I can save everyone a lot of time. Here are four things guaranteed to be true of the 2017 iPhone.

• It will be Apple's fastest iPhone ever
• It will have Apple's most-advanced optics
• There will be at least one extra feature you can't get on any other iPhone.
• It will come in rose gold.

There, that's it. But really, we're not even four months into 2016 — it's OK to wait before we start talking about a product that probably won't be out until the second or third week of September 2017.