Friday Apple Rumors: China Now World’s Top iPhone Purchaser

by Adam Patterson | March 23, 2012 11:27 am

daily apple rumors AAPL[1]Here are your Apple rumors[2] and AAPL news items for Friday:

China Now Top Purchaser of Apple Handhelds: Despite some business friction[3], China has fast become the world’s top activator of new iPhones and iPads. According to Bloomberg, China surpassed the U.S. as the top activator[4] of Apple‘s (NASDAQ:AAPL[5]) handhelds last month — averaging 23% of the world’s new activations above America’s 22%. The same phenomenon apparently was true around activation of Google‘s (NASDAQ:GOOG[6]) tablets and smartphones, with China’s percent of monthly Android activations climbing to 23% against America’s 22%. Evidence points toward China rapidly becoming a voracious consumer of smartphone and tablet technology — as recently as January 2011, China only accounted for 8% of the world’s activations while the U.S. held 28%.

iPhone 5 May Get External Redesign, Launch Soon: According to a release from eWeek.com, the iPhone 5 might feature a renovated screen[7]. Rumors are circulating that the next generation of Apple’s smartphone might feature a 4.6-inch “Retina Display” screen, replacing the iPhone’s traditional 3.5-inch fixture. There also is speculation that the iPhone 5 will debut with wireless LTE compatibility, as that feature was ingrained in the new iPad. While unconfirmed, rumors are building around a possible launch date in the second quarter of this year.

Next-Gen Macbooks in October?: PopHerald reports that in addition to a possible 2012 iPhone 5 launch, new Macbooks might be coming this year[8] as well. There is building premonition that Apple is planning 2012 as a debut spree — with consumer buzz sustained by next-gen Macbooks premiering in sequence with the iPhone 5. Apple recently has been gaining laptop market share[9], gradually siphoning customers from main competitors Dell (NASDAQ:DELL[10]) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ[11]).

Adam Patterson is an Assistant Editor of InvestorPlace. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities[12]. For more from the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors[13] stories.

Endnotes:

  1. [Image]: https://investorplace.com/hot-topics/apple-rumors-stock-news/
  2. Apple rumors: https://investorplace.com/hot-topics/apple-rumors-stock-news/
  3. business friction: https://investorplace.com/2012/02/tuesday-apple-rumors-apple-sued-over-ipad-trademark-aapl/
  4. China surpassed the U.S. as the top activator: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-21/china-passes-u-s-in-android-apple-smart-device-activations.html
  5. AAPL: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=AAPL
  6. GOOG: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=GOOG
  7. iPhone 5 might feature a renovated screen: http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/iPhone-5-Rumored-to-Feature-Larger-Screen-645823/
  8. new Macbooks might be coming this year: http://popherald.com/2012-03-22-release-date-iphone-macbook-air-pro-rumor-features-16509/
  9. gaining laptop market share: https://investorplace.com/2012/03/thursday-apple-rumors-next-gen-macbooks-in-april-aapl-adbe/
  10. DELL: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=DELL
  11. HPQ: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=HPQ
  12. securities: https://investorplace.com/investing-in-securities/
  13. Apple Rumors: https://investorplace.com/2012/03/hot-topics/apple-rumors-stock-news/

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