Apple orders over 20 million older iPhones to combat shortages of iPhone 12 models

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in General Discussion
As new component shortages add to previous coronavirus-related production delays for the 5G iPhone 12 range, Apple has ordered more than 20 million of the iPhone 11, iPhone SE, and iPhone XR -- but not the iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Apple's iPhone 11
Apple's iPhone 11


Backing up recent reports of component shortages, a new supply chain rumor claims that Apple is turning to its older iPhone models.

According to the Nikkei Asian Report, suppliers have been asked to prepare in excess of 20 million older iPhones between October and the end of the year. It's believed that this is to help both with holiday shopping demand, and also sales in early 2021.

Of those 20 million, unnamed "executive-level" sources said that the majority are for the iPhone 11 and the iPhone SE. Each is said to have received close to 10 million orders, while no figures were quoted for the iPhone XR.

"The orders for older models are really better than expected," said one source. Another told Nikkei Asian Report that, "the momentum for the iPhone 11 is surprisingly strong and keeps going."

That sourced added, though, "that's not the case for [iPhone 11] Pro and [iPhone 11] Pro Max." A further source claimed that, "it's about time for the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max [to stop production entirely, rather than] affect sales of the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max."

Apple is no longer selling the iPhone 11 Pro, or iPhone 11 Pro Max. It does continue to sell the iPhone 11, iPhone SE, and iPhone XR.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 11
    F_Kent_DF_Kent_D Posts: 98unconfirmed, member
    This could also be to help with long term inventory stock due to uncertainty of the future of their supply chain costs and availability. Apple knows they’re able to get them now and how much they will cost. Who knows how much they’ll cost and their availability to Apple 4 months from now. 
  • Reply 2 of 11
    harry wildharry wild Posts: 810member
    That means order now or else wait till February to get iPhone 12 models!
  • Reply 3 of 11
    gregoriusmgregoriusm Posts: 513member
    Or Apple could have anticipated this weeks/months ago and the order isn’t anything new but simply a part of their overall expected product mix.  
    muthuk_vanalingam
  • Reply 4 of 11
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    Headline:

    Apple orders over 20 million older iPhones to combat shortages of iPhone 12 models


    Reality:

    a new supply chain rumor claims that Apple is turning to its older iPhone models.

    Anyone notice the difference?


    qwerty52muthuk_vanalingamlam92103
  • Reply 5 of 11
    wood1208wood1208 Posts: 2,913member
    Not sure how ordering older iPhone models help combact new iPhone 12 shortage ? This means people want to upgrade to relatively newer release of iPhones irrespective of 5G or not !
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 11
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    wood1208 said:
    Not sure how ordering older iPhone models help combact new iPhone 12 shortage ? This means people want to upgrade to relatively newer release of iPhones irrespective of 5G or not !
    I’m not sure either. That’s why this RUMOR doesn’t smell right. We’ve been warned over and over to take supply chain rumors with a grain of salt. Analysts  and journalists have built their reputations on shaky ground by pushing supply chain rumors as fact.
    edited November 2020 hecaldermuthuk_vanalingamwatto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 11
    dewmedewme Posts: 5,375member
    lkrupp said:
    wood1208 said:
    Not sure how ordering older iPhone models help combact new iPhone 12 shortage ? This means people want to upgrade to relatively newer release of iPhones irrespective of 5G or not !
    I’m not sure either. That’s why this RUMOR doesn’t smell right. We’ve been warned over and over to take supply chain rumors with a grain of salt. Analysts  and journalists have built their reputations on shaky ground by pushing supply chain rumors as fact.
    Funny. The headline makes it sound like you show up at a restaurant intent on getting a filet mignon, asparagus, and baked potato, but they have no more in stock, so maybe you'll want to settle for a ham sandwich, pickle, and fries. Yeah, maybe not.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 8 of 11
    wood1208wood1208 Posts: 2,913member
    lkrupp said:
    wood1208 said:
    Not sure how ordering older iPhone models help combact new iPhone 12 shortage ? This means people want to upgrade to relatively newer release of iPhones irrespective of 5G or not !
    I’m not sure either. That’s why this RUMOR doesn’t smell right. We’ve been warned over and over to take supply chain rumors with a grain of salt. Analysts  and journalists have built their reputations on shaky ground by pushing supply chain rumors as fact.

    Unless iPhone 12 demand is so high(than Apple can produce in timely manner) that Apple wants to offer previous gen iPhones to make sure customers still have option to buy iPhones and not force choose competitive during holiday season.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 9 of 11
    Hank2.0Hank2.0 Posts: 151member
    dewme said

    Funny. The headline makes it sound like you show up at a restaurant intent on getting a filet mignon, asparagus, and baked potato, but they have no more in stock, so maybe you'll want to settle for a ham sandwich, pickle, and fries. Yeah, maybe not.
    Actually, restaurants do suggest other comparable dishes when the meal you want is sold out. I really don't see an iPhone 11 being a ham sandwich in comparison to an iPhone 12. It's more like a ribeye.  ;)

    watto_cobra
  • Reply 10 of 11
    headfull0wineheadfull0wine Posts: 111member
    Seems to me like this isn’t intended for those who have a perfectly good phone but want to upgrade to the latest and greatest. Those folks will gladly wait. They are obtaining stock for those who’s current phone just died and need a new one now. They might have bought a 12 if they had the option, but an 11 will do. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 11 of 11
    InspiredCodeInspiredCode Posts: 403member
    I imagine they will be flooded with iPhone 11 Pro second hand phones, so maybe not a huge demand for those.
    watto_cobra
Sign In or Register to comment.