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Apple reportedly has two new iPhones in the works, according to a Feb. 16 research note from analyst Daniel Amir, with Lazard Capital Markets. Along with the Apple iPad, the new iPhones are poised to benefit partner companies supplying many of the essential components.
Amir writes that, as components are currently running short, Apple is now paying a premium to ensure it that 2.5 million iPads will be available during the second quarter of the year.
“This is a fairly aggressive number in our opinion and suggests that Apple is really trying to push this as a mass market product,” wrote Amir. “Overall, the high production number is positive for both SanDisk and Broadcom, which supplies the touch, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth components.”
SanDisk currently supplies NAND to Apple for the iPad and the iPhone, and Amir suspects that SanDisk could be Apple’s sole NAND flash supplier, as its 32GB iNAND is believed to be included in both devices. (Samsung and Toshiba contribute lower-density 8GB and 16GB NAND chips.)
At $54 to $60 per unit, Amir estimates that NAND sales sent $81 million of revenue SanDisk’s way during the fourth quarter of 2009.
Apple may also be looking for new partners in one other area, according to another analyst.
Brian White, an analyst with Ticonderoga Securities, wrote in a Feb. 16 note that while Hon Hai Precision is responsible for the majority of Apple’s iPhone production, he believes that Apple is searching for additional manufacturing partners.
“New partners could be brought on as early as the next-generation iPhone product and could benefit companies currently providing iPhone component parts,” wrote White.
As for those next-gen iPhones, Lazard’s Amir says that details are scarce, but production is currently on track for May. He expects Apple to introduce two new models in June.
“One of these models could be an upgrade of the $99 iPhone to a 3GS-based design.
The production roadmap calls for modest unit production for the new $99 model,” wrote Amir.
“The other new model could be a new design, with a fast production ramp in 2Q10,” he continued. “Our checks suggest that this will come with two cameras with image sensors made by Omnivision. The expectation is for the current iPhone 3G and 3GS versions to be phased out during the 2Q-3Q period.”
Others have speculated that the iPad may also receive a camera and, before long, a price drop.
Lazard Capital Markets expects Apple to ship approximately 7.2 million iPhones during the first quarter of this year. In the fourth quarter of 2009, 10.5 million iPhones were produced, though only 8.7 million sold, a decline that, Amir wrote, was “slightly more than seasonal trends.”