As virtually everyone predicted, the iPhone X was the undisputed star coming out of this week’s Apple media event — but don’t expect them to be in ready supply immediately following release.
According to a new report, the later shipping date of the tenth anniversary iPhone X is linked to production problems, and suggests possible supply constraints in the months ahead. In other words, if you want to get your hands on an iPhone X, you’ll need to be exceptionally quick off the mark when pre-orders open.
The manufacturing issues on the iPhone X are reportedly related to low yield rates of Samsung Display in manufacturing the OLED display for the new handset. While these issues have now been resolved, Samsung’s shipments of OLED panels to Apple in 2017 is likely to be “significantly lower: than the original target of 80-85 million units set previously.
Foxconn, which is assembling the finished devices, may ship only five million units of the iPhone X to Apple this month, before ramping up shipments to 45-55 million by the end of the year. By comparison, shipments of the 4.7-inch iPhone 8 will reach 35-38 million units this year, while those of 5.5-inch iPhone 8 Plus are likely to top 18-20 million units.
The top-end iPhone being hard to find on launch is nothing new, although judging by the apparent indifference for the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus — and the overwhelming enthusiasm for the iPhone X — Apple’s premium handset may prove even tougher than usual to find this year.
The iPhone X pre-orders will begin on October 27, with shipping set for November 3.
Source: Digitimes
