Apple's 5G iPhone Launch Pushes Investors to Hope for "Unprecedented Refresh Cycle"

Smartphone giant Apple Inc. (Apple shares - NASDAQ: AAPL), has scheduled an online event for October 13, which should lead to the launch of the first 5G compatible iPhones.

5G as the strength of new Apple products

People are increasingly relying on their smartphones, and the most important question for Apple investors is whether 5G connectivity will be enough to drive a huge wave of updates.

US carriers continue to build their 5G networks, although initial implementations of this new wireless standard may not make significant improvements in wireless speeds and lag times that are 5G's latest promise.

However, Apple has hinted that 5G may be the main selling point of its new phones. The slogan for the launch is “Hi, Speed”. It is not known whether Apple will offer support for millimeter wave spectrum, the faster type of 5G, or if the phones will only be compatible with the 5G sub-6, which is more widely available but offers less than a step up from. 4G networks.

Apple is thought to be planning four “iPhone 12” devices for the next launch. Many expect the company to debut two regular iPhone 12 models, with 5,4-inch and 6,1-inch screens, as well as two "Pro" versions with 6,1-inch and 6,7-inch screen sizes. .

All four new phones are expected to have 5G connectivity. The 5,4-inch model is expected to be popular with consumers as there is still strong demand for smaller screen sizes, even as Apple is increasingly moving towards larger form factors.

The assumptions about new Apple products

Apple has seen strong adoption of its AirPods earbuds, and the expectation is that the company plans to launch over-the-ear headphones under its own brand. A recent Bloomberg report highlighted Apple's decision to remove third-party spekers and headsets like Sonos Inc., Logitech International, and Bose from its stores, suggesting the company may plan new launches in those categories.

Apple-branded Bluetooth trackers have been the subject of rumors for more than a year now, and some expect Apple to finally launch “AirTags” at its next event. These would be trackers that allow people to place small tags on items like a bag or their keys so that they can use Bluetooth to locate these items in the event of loss or theft.

The October 13 event follows a mid-September one, which saw the company launch new Apple Watch, iPad, and subscription packages that offer discounts to those who subscribe to multiple Apple services. Apple could offer some sort of link with these new service packages to those who buy new iPhones. Apple stock has risen 21% over the past three months.