Apple expected to sell more than 350 million iPhones next year: Report

The new iPhone models which are set to launch next month, may create a massive wave of upgrades in a period of 12 – 18 months. Due to the diversity of iPhone models available to customers this year, a report points out at a 350 million iPhone sales for this period.

According to 9to5Mac, GBH Insights analyst Daniel Ives, there is ‘a massive iPhone upgrade opportunity’ in the making…’ He said, “The new phones “will help capture the underlying demand [for] upgrades among customers that have decided to bypass the … cycle this time around, with price points and features that catalyze fence-sitting iPhone customers onto their next smartphone.”

For Apple, China is particularly a ‘big opportunity’. It is believed that almost 100 million iPhone customers in China and about 60 million to 70 million of them are due for an upgrade over the next 18 months.

Next month Apple will be taking the wraps off its new line of premium iPhone and if the latest rumors are anything to go by, the tech giant will also add a new MacBook to replace the current MacBook Air.

The rumored MacBook will feature a 13-inch display and come powered by Intel?s 14nm Kaby Lake processor. The entry-level MacBook is likely to be priced at USD 1,200, DigiTimes reported. The entry-level MacBook is rumoured to feature a Retina display and USB-C ports. It is also expected to come with the new-generation butterfly keyboard akin to the MacBook Pros.

In addition to the new MacBook, Apple is also expected to introduce redesigned iPad Pros with slimmer bezels. The company may also start shipping the 3-in-1 AirPower wireless charger for USD 150-200.

Apple may be mum on its plans for this year's iPhone lineup but that does not stop curious fans from digging into the beta software and hunt for design details.

9to5Mac's Guilherme Rambo combed through the iOS 12 beta 5 version and found the reference to an even larger iPhone X Plus model. Rambo shared images of the icons for the intended model through his Twitter handle, drawing comparisons between the iPhone X, iPhone X Plus, and the iPad.

The iconography was found in the PassKitUIFoundation. It is not the first such revelation about the upcoming features and design of the future iPhone. Recently, Apple accidentally included details about the upcoming models in the iOS 12 beta release. If one goes by the icons shared by Rambo, the iPhone X Plus will be taller and slightly wider than the existing iPhone X. The famous notch retains its position on the top.