Analyst reiterates 'July' arrival of iPhone 5S, low-cost iPhone

KGI Securities released another note that spells out features of the upcoming iPhone 5S and a low-cost iPhone 5.

Brooke Crothers Former CNET contributor

Brooke Crothers writes about mobile computer systems, including laptops, tablets, smartphones: how they define the computing experience and the hardware that makes them tick. He has served as an editor at large at CNET News and a contributing reporter to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. His interest in things small began when living in Tokyo in a very small apartment for a very long time.

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Brooke Crothers

March 4, 2013 9:44 p.m. PT

2 min read

Fresh data from KGI Securities reiterates that the iPhone 5S and a lower end model should begin to rollout by July.

Following a research note in January, KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo says the iPhone 5S along with a low-cost iPhone 5 will be announced in June and be available by July, according to reports at Mac Rumors and Apple Insider.

Kuo, often cited as one of the more prescient and accurate Apple analysts, believes the 5S will pack a new A7 chip. Apple has gotten quite adept at designing some of the fastest phone and tablet processors on the planet, so the A7 would be a welcome addition.

And expect a better camera based on a LED technology referred to as "Smart Flash," according to Kuo.

Here's an excerpt from Kuo's research note, via Mac Rumors.

We expect Apple will introduce its new iPhones and iOS7 in June, and start shipping the new iPhones (5S and low-cost model) in the FDD [frequency-division duplexing] version in July. Both dates are earlier than last year's roadmap. We attribute this to: (1) an effort to avoid repeating the fatal mistake of last year of the delayed iPhone 5 launch, which gave competitors room to grab market share; and (2) the new iPhones this year are mainly designed on the basis of the current iPhone 5, which suggests development time could be reduced.

Versions supporting China's time-division duplexing (TDD) standard are said to follow in September.

He also mentions that the 5S "will have a fingerprint chip under the Home button, improving security and usability."

And he opines on the low-cost iPhone 5, mentioning that "hybrid casing of fiberglass and plastic will make it lighter and slimmer than general plastic casing and easier to make in various colors." That said, it will be heavier than the iPhone 5S, he said.

And all new iPhones will support LTE, according to Kuo.