Kuo 6 1 Inch Iphone Shipping Later No Apple Pencil Support This Year

We’re likely just a few weeks away from Apple’s iPhone event, and Ming-Chi Kuo has released his latest predictions. The supply chain analyst echoes his long-running prediction of three new iPhones announced during the week of September 9, but Kuo believes only the two OLED models will actually be released next month.

Citing its production schedule, Kuo predictions that the 6.1-inch iPhone, expected to be the entry-priced model in the flagship lineup, will indeed ship “slightly later” than the two OLED models that Kuo says will be available in September. The timing suggests a release in October, although Kuo doesn’t specify. Apple announced the iPhone 8 and iPhone X last September, but the premium model wasn’t actually released until early November.

Kuo goes on to predict that the 6.1-inch and 6.5-inch iPhones will ship in single- and dual-SIM configurations depending on market and region. Kuo adds that the new 5.8-inch iPhone will have a single SIM tray and embedded SIM support, but the eSIM “may not be activated.”

Finally, Kuo predicts that all three new iPhones will be powered by a new A12 chip — even the entry level 6.1-inch LCD model. Apple shipped all three iPhones with A11 chips last year despite a big price difference between the iPhone 8 and iPhone X.

Kuo is also negative on the recent rumor that new iPhones will work with the Apple Pencil despite the larger displays. Kuo’s reasoning is simply that it would not offer a good user experience to date.