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Kuo: 2019 iPhones and New iPad Pro Models in Late 2019 to Early 2020 to Adopt New Antenna Technology

Apple plans to use modified-PI (MPI) material for most antennas in 2019 iPhones (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/2019-iphones/), rather than the liquid crystal polymer (LCP) material used for the iPhone XS (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-xs/), <!---->iPhone XS<!----> Max, and iPhone XR (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-xr/) antennas, according to the latest research note from reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ming-chi-kuo/), obtained by MacRumors.





<img src="(http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2018/12/2018-iphone-trio.jpg)" alt="" width="450" height="416" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-670679" />


Kuo believes that LCP limits the RF performance of the <!---->iPhone XS<!---->, <!---->iPhone XS<!----> Max, and <!---->iPhone XR<!----> antennas due to current technology limitations and production issues. This puts the RF performance of MPI material at least on par with LCP, despite MPI being easier and cheaper to produce.





While switching to MPI material for 2019 iPhone antennas appears to be a no-brainer decision for Apple, Kuo expects that LCP will still be the primary material for 5G antennas in 2020 iPhones, as he believes that the production issues limiting the RF performance of LCP will be resolved by then.





In today's note, Kuo also said he expects Apple to use LCP material in future iPad (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad/) models, starting from the late fourth quarter of 2019.





<img src="(http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2014/11/ipadprosizecomparison-800x653.jpg)" alt="" width="800" height="653" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-663390" />


In a separate research note last month, which has only been seen by Taiwanese media (https://technews.tw/2019/04/25/new-ipad-pro-lcp-board/) so far, Kuo said two new iPad Pro (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-pro/) models with the same 11-inch and 12.9-inch screen sizes as the current models will enter mass production between the fourth quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020.





Kuo said those new <!---->iPad Pro<!----> models will feature flexible circuit boards using LCP, but we've yet to receive that research note in English, so we cannot confirm any further details at this time.

<div class="linkback">Related Roundups: iPad Pro (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-pro/), 2019 iPhones (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/2019-iphones/)</div><div class="linkback">Tags: Ming-Chi Kuo (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ming-chi-kuo/), TF International Securities (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/tf-international-securities/)</div><div class="linkback">Buyer's Guide: 11" iPad Pro (Neutral) (https://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#11-iPad-Pro), 12.9" iPad Pro (Neutral) (https://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#12-9-iPad-Pro)</div>
This article, &quot;Kuo: 2019 iPhones and New iPad Pro Models in Late 2019 to Early 2020 to Adopt New Antenna Technology (https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/05/kuo-lcp-antennas-2019-iphones-ipads/)&quot; first appeared on MacRumors.com (https://www.macrumors.com)

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Source: Kuo: 2019 iPhones and New iPad Pro Models in Late 2019 to Early 2020 to Adopt New Antenna Technology (https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/05/kuo-lcp-antennas-2019-iphones-ipads/)