I should know better than to report on analyst predictions about the next iPhone — they’re often wrong — but the latest from Jefferies & Company analyst Peter Misek is irresistible.
iPhone 5 will actually be called the iPhone 4S, suggesting that it’ll be a minor upgrade similar to the iPhone 3GS in 2009. The new phone will include Apple’s A5 dual-core processor, better cameras and minor cosmetic changes.
But the bigger piece of scuttlebutt is carrier support. Misek’s research note said the iPhone 4S will support Sprint and T-Mobile, finally bringing Apple’s smartphone to all four major U.S. carriers. Verizon’s speedy LTE 4G network, however, won’t be supported. Reportedly, Qualcomm’s LTE chipset isn’t producing sufficient yields, so superfast downloads will have to wait for the iPhone 5. The iPhone 4S will support HSPA+ networks, Misek’s research note said.
