JPMorgan: Apple ‘Highly Likely’ to Announce iPhone 8 at WWDC in June

In its latest analyst report, JPMorgan has made a surprising claim that that there is a “high likelihood” of Apple announcing the ‘iPhone 8’ at WWDC next month, 9to5Mac is reporting. The report adds that although Apple will preview its 2017 iPhone lineup in June, the devices wouldn’t go on sale until the fall. It further notes that investors should expect weaker summer sales performance as customers await for a major upgrade in the fall.

JPMorgan does little to justify its outlandish claim […] It is true that Apple has launched new iPhones at WWDC before, up to the iPhone 4 in 2010. They very clearly have moved away from this trend however.

In addition, it would be weird for Apple to preview an iPhone 8 following Tim Cook’s comments on the earnings call that iPhone 8 rumors and reports resulted in many customers holding off on buying existing devices. Officially announcing the next-gen would exaggerate that effect causing an even bigger summer sales dive.

With the exception of the iPhone 4s which launched in early October, every iPhone since then has been launched in the fall and every model has debuted in September. This helps Apple boost its holiday quarter sales with new product launches. 

It’s also worth reiterating all the reports that said the new OLED iPhone could be significantly pushed back from September, giving Apple even more time to announce the product, contrary to JPMorgan’s latest prediction.

Apple is expected toannounce iOS 11, macOS 10.13, watchOS 4 and tvOS 11 at WWDC 2017, which kicks off on June 5th.