The release of new iPhone models in Q3 will help drive total iPhone shipments up 20 per cent to more than 230 million units this year, according to Taipei-based TrendForce.

The new models, which the firm said will be part of the 6S series, will account for an estimated 35 per cent of total iPhone shipments this year, DigiTimes reported.

Apple announced last month that it shipped 61.2 million iPhones in Q1, which was a 40 per cent increase from a year ago and a record for the quarter. In Q4 – another record – it shipped 74.5 million units.

The market intelligence firm expects the new iPhone’s DRAM will be upgraded from LPDDR3 to LPDDR4 and the memory capacity will double to 2GB. With the new model scheduled for shipments in the third quarter, it suggests Apple’s main mobile DRAM suppliers Samsung and SK Hynix will set aside capacity for LPDDR4 production.

TrendForce also speculated, DigiTimes said, that the next iPhone’s minimum storage capacity will be increased from 16GB to 32GB, with storage options ranging from 32GB to 128GB. The firm expects 64GB and 128GB versions to continue using TLC-based NAND flash, which will make up more than 50 per cent of next-generation iPhone shipments this year.