Next-gen iPhone with "Gorilla Glass inlay" to launch in Sept. despite reported component shortage
Apple's much-rumored next-generation iPhone will hit shelves sometime in September despite rumblings that component supplies may push back the device's launch date, AppleInsider has learned.
A trusted industry insider told AppleInsider on Thursday that they expect Apple still expects to launch the sixth-generation iPhone in September following a manufacturing ramp-up earlier in the month.
These views were similarly shared in a research note Friday by well-respected KGI Research analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said the next-generation handset is entering the production verification test (PVT) stage and that Apple's supply chain will be intact for the initial ramp, though availability of select components, like in-cell touch-panels made by Sharp and LG, may be tight due to low yield rates.
According to industry checks the two suppliers will be able to pump out a small number of panels and contribute to Japanese display maker JDI's already-growing stockpile, which will stand at over 10 million units before the end the third quarter. Overall, in-cell panel supply should reach between 14 to 18 million units in the third quarter, sufficient for the next-generation iPhone's rollout.
As for the smartphone's metal and glass case, up-chain suppliers suggest only two color ways will be available: black and white. Kuo went on to say the images of purportedly leaked assembled externals are "very likely authentic" and notes the metal top and bottom of the uni-body casing may feature a Gorilla Glass inlay for heat dissipation and cellular reception. The design has never been seen before and may negate the wireless connectivity issues Apple faced with the iPhone 4.
The supply of baseband chips expected to be used in the upcoming handset are not expected to be a problem for Apple as the next-gen iPhone will likely employ Qualcomm's MDM9615M silicon, an improved version of the chip used in the third-generation iPad. Because the MDM chip's die size is smaller than previous iterations, production yield is higher and most likely won't cause an issue for the mass-production of the upcoming iPhone.
According to the Kuo, Apple's fiscal guidance for its fourth fiscal quarter of 2012, the expected gold master release of iOS 6 in early September and lack of a supply shortage point to an early to mid-September launch for the next-gen handset. The timetable is in-line with recent rumors that Apple will hold an as-yet-unannounced special event on Sept. 12.
A trusted industry insider told AppleInsider on Thursday that they expect Apple still expects to launch the sixth-generation iPhone in September following a manufacturing ramp-up earlier in the month.
These views were similarly shared in a research note Friday by well-respected KGI Research analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said the next-generation handset is entering the production verification test (PVT) stage and that Apple's supply chain will be intact for the initial ramp, though availability of select components, like in-cell touch-panels made by Sharp and LG, may be tight due to low yield rates.
According to industry checks the two suppliers will be able to pump out a small number of panels and contribute to Japanese display maker JDI's already-growing stockpile, which will stand at over 10 million units before the end the third quarter. Overall, in-cell panel supply should reach between 14 to 18 million units in the third quarter, sufficient for the next-generation iPhone's rollout.
As for the smartphone's metal and glass case, up-chain suppliers suggest only two color ways will be available: black and white. Kuo went on to say the images of purportedly leaked assembled externals are "very likely authentic" and notes the metal top and bottom of the uni-body casing may feature a Gorilla Glass inlay for heat dissipation and cellular reception. The design has never been seen before and may negate the wireless connectivity issues Apple faced with the iPhone 4.
The supply of baseband chips expected to be used in the upcoming handset are not expected to be a problem for Apple as the next-gen iPhone will likely employ Qualcomm's MDM9615M silicon, an improved version of the chip used in the third-generation iPad. Because the MDM chip's die size is smaller than previous iterations, production yield is higher and most likely won't cause an issue for the mass-production of the upcoming iPhone.
According to the Kuo, Apple's fiscal guidance for its fourth fiscal quarter of 2012, the expected gold master release of iOS 6 in early September and lack of a supply shortage point to an early to mid-September launch for the next-gen handset. The timetable is in-line with recent rumors that Apple will hold an as-yet-unannounced special event on Sept. 12.
Comments
Shortages or no, they may as well release whatever quantity they CAN make. It’s not as though people don’t know it’s coming. Demand is already being harmed by anticipation.
Even if mass quantity shipments can’t happen until November (or whenever) I don’t really see why it would be better to ship ZERO new iPhones in September-Octover than to ship only a limited number. Plus they can be taking back orders.
2) Haven't we heard about component shortages pretty much every year before a new release? I'm sure there are shortages but it could be because Apple has been busy buying up all the components to make yet another record release.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
The insider goes on to say the images of purportedly leaked assembled externals are "very likely authentic"
Well it looks like what you see is what you get:
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
1) This new design looks absolutely brilliant in every way.
I wouldn't go that far, but I will say it's not bad. But it will need to have some "WOW" features either software or hardware to get people interested. Because the design alone is pretty standard
I must be hard to please because the design of this supposed new iPhone is the dullest thing I've seen for a generation upgrade (apart from 3 to 3S and 4 to 4S). Is this seriously all they can come up with? The front and sides look almost identical to 4 and 4S except for a change in bottom ports, oooh, how thrilling. The back is slightly different because of the materials used, wow, ground breaking. It's far from ugly but it barely looks like it's evolved from a design aspect. I'm still buying it because I need to upgrade but this is far from brilliant. I can only pray Apple is fooling us all with the real thing secretly hidden and that the new product looks nothing like this but I fear that I will not be pleasantly surprised. Apple has a lot at stake with this next phone, they better deliver because competition is hot on their ass more than ever!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
2) Haven't we heard about component shortages pretty much every year before a new release? I'm sure there are shortages but it could be because Apple has been busy buying up all the components to make yet another record release.
In spite of which, Mr. Cook has earned and retained a high reputation as a "supply-line wizard".
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
1) This new design looks absolutely brilliant in every way.
2) Haven't we heard about component shortages pretty much every year before a new release? I'm sure there are shortages but it could be because Apple has been busy buying up all the components to make yet another record release.
Current iPhone 4 has done the job - sign me up! Data only plan for existing device repurposed for data acquisition/control.
Rock on iPhone!
All the best.
Quote:
... the metal top and bottom of the uni-body casing may feature a Gorilla Glass inlay for heat dissipation and cellular reception. ...
This sentence makes no kind of sense whatsoever.
I think what you mean is that the unibody back piece features glass/ceramic inlays at the top and bottom.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nagromme
Shortages or no, they may as well release whatever quantity they CAN make. It’s not as though people don’t know it’s coming. Demand is already being harmed by anticipation.
Even if mass quantity shipments can’t happen until November (or whenever) I don’t really see why it would be better to ship ZERO new iPhones in September-Octover than to ship only a limited number. Plus they can be taking back orders.
It seems to me that the whole shortage issue is being well overplayed. I suppose "analysts" have to have something to say and blogs have to have something to write about.
I mean they talk about shortages, but then they say there might only be 14 million or so at rollout? Also, it's just the beginning of August for cripes sake and the event is halfway through September with a probably two week wait after the even until the day they release it. So we won't know how many they've been able to successfully produce for two months! Does everyone think that the companies are *happy* with the low rate? Does no one think that they might try to do something about it in the two intervening months?
I'd bet money that there will be plenty on launch day and that if there weren't, launch day would all of a sudden be halfway into October instead.
I sure hope so anyway as I will be needing the 64GB white one which is the worst combination of very popular (because it's white), and not very many being made (because it's 64GB).
The back is slightly different?The back is metal instead of glass and it's connected to the sides making the casing design different in every from the previous design.
Quote:
Originally Posted by canadan
I must be hard to please because the design of this supposed new iPhone is the dullest thing I've seen for a generation upgrade (apart from 3 to 3S and 4 to 4S). Is this seriously all they can come up with? The front and sides look almost identical to 4 and 4S except for a change in bottom ports, oooh, how thrilling. The back is slightly different because of the materials used, wow, ground breaking. It's far from ugly but it barely looks like it's evolved from a design aspect. I'm still buying it because I need to upgrade but this is far from brilliant. I can only pray Apple is fooling us all with the real thing secretly hidden and that the new product looks nothing like this but I fear that I will not be pleasantly surprised. Apple has a lot at stake with this next phone, they better deliver because competition is hot on their ass more than ever!!
My thoughts exactly. This new "taller" iPhone (if it is in fact what Apple will release) is disappointing and underwhelming considering both that it has been two years since Apple introduced the iPhone 4 design and the devices like the Galaxy SIII and HTC One X that the Android competitors are putting out. It is a very mild/timid design change, it is just more of the same (this can also be said about iOS 6). The taller screen, that keeps the same width is really pointless as far as giving you more screen realstate goes (landscape mode will be as tedious as it is now, for example, if not more so) and just can't hold a candle to the SIII, Nexus or HTC One X in this regard.
Oh well, I'll still wait for the official Apple unveiling, before deciding but as things are, it looks like my next phone will be the SIII.
Only so much you can do with the case. Lets see how the overall iphone5 shapes up. In other words features, bells, whistles, screen size, IOS6, NFC, and........................
Stay tuned
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Originally Posted by currentinterest
To cause a I've got to have it stampede all Apple has to say is, "Introducing, the all new, liquid metal, iPhone." people will hear liquid metal and go nuts. Not because of what it does, but because it sounds so cool, and no other phone can have it.
For it to be a "liquid metal" phone, every single rumour and leak of the iPhone has to be 100% wrong.
What are the odds of that do you think?
It would also cost several hundred dollars over and above whatever a non "liquid metal" iPhone would cost.
This doesn't seem likely to me at all.
I think the only decent way to gauge this is by how many countries they release it on day one and how quickly they scale up the countries compared to previous years. I think last year was 7 countries followed by 22 countries 2 weeks later.
Perhaps that not part number but I'll be very surprised if Apple isn't using anything other than a 3rd gen LTE chip.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
I think the only decent way to gauge this is by how many countries they release it on day one and how quickly they scale up the countries compared to previous years. I think last year was 7 countries followed by 22 countries 2 weeks later.
Yes, they seem to play with that a bit also. Possibly if they don't have enough they would say, release it in the US only and then Canada and UK a week or two later etc.
I must say I'm not totally happy about some of their design choices this time, especially the 16:9 screen (which I abhor, but can understand their reasoning on), but I don't understand all the people saying that it's not exciting or that it seems the same. In the first place how could anyone possibly tell without holding it in their hands? It could be lighter, tighter, heavier, thinner, or a whole host of other things that you won't experience until you touch it and hold it. A picture of a crassly assembled bunch of parts is not going to give anyone enough of an idea as to whether they should buy it or not.
Secondly, I just don't understand why anyone who could afford it, wouldn't buy the new iPhone every single year. It's an amazing device and gets better and more useful year by year. On contract it costs $200 which is less then the price of a few lattes every month. I also find the emergence of the new mobile platform fascinating. I think it's just as exciting as when the first desktop computers appeared and just as historically important. Even outside of the design, in the last five years whole "empires" have risen and fallen in the mobile industry. Microsoft (Microsoft!) has been forced to change their entire business model!
I just don't get how people are claiming to be bored by all this. It's as if you were around for the birth of the automobile and could have bought one of the first Fords but didn't because it "wasn't as exciting as you thought it might be" or some such BS. I bet that 20 years from now all the "bored" people will be lying to their grandkids, telling them that they were not only around for the "birth of iOS devices" but that they had bought every model that came out as well.
IMO even if they can't afford to buy one each year, anyone who isn't absolutely thrilled to see the new model is some kind of weirdo and not anyone I would call a "techie" at all. How could you possibly not love to live in an age when such miraculous devices are available? How could anyone possibly be blase about it? How could anyone claim to be interested in computers or phones and not be enthralled by all that's going on?
Quote:
Originally Posted by blackbook
Well it looks like what you see is what you get:
I wouldn't go that far, but I will say it's not bad. But it will need to have some "WOW" features either software or hardware to get people interested. Because the design alone is pretty standard
I wish the screen matched the central back panel in dimensions. That alone would've been a killer feature as the diagonal of the back panel is likely 4.5"+.
No. Most people don't know what liquid metal is so that alone wont drive any sales. People need to see wow features and bells and whistles. (ala SIRI) to buy the phone in droves. Hardware specs rarely do anything for consumers.
Well of you look at the Mac lineup then you'll see how Apple can quantify this as a "MAJOR" redesign.