iPhone 7 is Apple's upcoming flagship device for 2016 and is expected to launch in early September. (Photo : Getty Images/John Gress)
Apple is on course to unveil the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus in September 6 with the actual release date happening on the 16th or third Friday of the month, a new report said, adding that the schedule is largely confirmed. But the next iPhone initial shipments are unlikely to meet the expected heavy demands following the launch.
Traditionally, Apple registers record sales for the new iPhone models in the last four months of the year but according to a Nikkei report the tech giant appears to be playing safe this 2016 and significantly trimmed down on new orders. "A major Apple supplier ... confirmed that the U.S. company's placement of orders is very conservative this year," the report said.
As a result, supply shortage is likely to greet early buyers as the same report indicated that despite the lower numbers of new iPhones to be shipped suppliers are encountering production issues and chief of them is the unexpected low output of components to be used for the device.
"If Apple sticks to its launch schedule from last year, there may not be enough supply at the beginning, as some suppliers are still trying to fix low yield rates of their components," Nikkei reported, pointing to an industry insider as source.
The likelihood of low volume shipments come the next iPhone launch seems quite apparent, the report added.
And it seemed Apple is partly to blame for its decision to adjust downward the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus production numbers, which analysts said could have been prompted by shrinking revenues delivered by the tech titan's iPhone business.
In the last two quarters this 2016, Apple saw the iPhone sales numbers declined and the trend is only seen to continue at the close of September.
Nikkei said that for the 2016 iPhone push, Apple will lower its production of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus or only 74 million units will be made available by the end of 2016. In contrast, when the duo of the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus the tech giant flooded the market with 84 million units that were nearly depleted.
Amidst the not too upbeat projections, Apple remains upbeat on the next iPhone prospect as rumors indicate that the device will double up on the storage configurations and fresh color options will be added to the menu. Buyers will be made to pick from 32GB, 128GB and 256GB editions and reports said that the new iPhone will be served in Deep Blue and Space Black flavors, on top of the familiar Champagne Gold, Rose Gold and Silver White. The power inside is the combo of A10 processing chip and iOS 10.
Forbes said the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus release date will happen no later than the third week of September following the preorder that starts on the 9th with starting price of $649 for the regular-size unlock version and $749 for the supersized build.
