The long-awaited successor to the popular iPhone SE remains on track for launch sometime next month, a top analyst on Apple’s supply chain in China said.
TF International Securities’ Ming-Chi Kuo said in a note to investors that coronavirus has not impeded production of the budget-friendly iPhone. The new handset is known as either the iPhone SE 2 or iPhone 9.
Earlier this year, Kuo reported on likely manufacturing delays for Apple. Kuo and others believed, though, the production of a cheaper iPhone was far enough along to not be delayed by the virus. Kuo said fall product releases and even Apple’s 2021 plans could be slowed by current travel restrictions and workforces reduced by quarantines.
Tech news site MacRumors was among the first news sites to get a look at Kuo’s research report.
The low-cost iPhone, expected to list for $399, was a small part of a larger note on smartphone camera lens providers. Apple appears to be sticking with a six-element plastic lens, instead of one with seven elements, MacRumors reported.
Kuo doesn’t say whether Apple is using older components because of delayed supplies of the more-advanced seven-element lens.
The new 4.7-inch iPhone is expected around March. An updated iPad Pro and wireless charging mat are reportedly coming next month as well.
Source: MacRumors
