Rumored Glitch May Hobble New iPhone Launch Inventory

[Michael Essany]

Although Apple is no stranger to the occasional production glitch, a new rumor originating from the far east suggests that a glitch may hobble the initial inventory of the 6th generation iPhone next month.

According to sources in contact with Digitimes, projected shipments of a new iPhone in the third quarter of 2012 could fall to (or below) 15 million units. Although that doesn't sound a small amount, when you consider the anticipated demand for the device and Apple's purportedly desired supply of at least 20 million units at launch, it's clear why this reduced supply might be troublesome to the tech giant.

The rumored culprit in the production glitch is "low yield rates in the production of in-cell touch panels." Another reported issue is a problem related to the connector at the bottom of the phone.

"Issues related to the poor yields of in-cell panels have been cited previously as possibly disrupting Apple's shipping schedule for new iPhones," the source tells Digitimes. "The latest rumors indicate that Apple has recently redesigned a connector at the bottom of the new iPhone and that yield rates of the new connectors at Foxconn International Holdings have been low due in part to insufficient supply of some key materials."

As of this writing, however, there is no indication that Apple's widely estimated iPhone release date of mid-September will be changed.

Source: Digitimes

[bigboyz]

Very clever Apple:] Now I can answer the question I asked in a previous article. "Why do people wait for days in line?" Articles like this scare people into believing there won't be enough. Either that or they wanna have it first so to speak. Im sure they'll figure it out as Christmas will be right around the corner and Apple does not want to miss those big sales figures. Happy shopping.

[zinjen]

Very clever Apple:] Now I can answer the question I asked in a previous article. "Why do people wait for days in line?" Articles like this scare people into believing there won't be enough. Either that or they wanna have it first so to speak. Im sure they'll figure it out as Christmas will be right around the corner and Apple does not want to miss those big sales figures. Happy shopping.

I disagree - It requires a different type of person. Everyone knows there will be plenty of iPhones in December obviously, the question is for the people who want it immediately and do not want to wait. I have bought my phone at launch each year since the original and have never once had one issue. To each their own ~

[VerizonIphone4_help]

eh, less than 30 days after the launch there will be enough iphones for everyone who wants one. That's when i get mine as there's not typically a JB before then and usually not for sometime after. I'll be keeping my ip4 until the JB

[bisayakid07]

I'm buying 2 units but still keeping my jailbroken iPhone4 😊

[dannyrocket]

I don't even know if I want the new phone. That being said, I also wait until there is a JB for the phone before I upgrade. Would never use a non jailbroken iPhone ever again lol.

[budsalinger]

I never used to care about the screen size of my iPhone vs the goliath android phones but lately I've been having issues typing on this thing. I think I'm getting lazy. If iPhone doesn't get bigger I will consider android....omg did I just say that?! hmm... Is there a jailbreak app that will increase the keyboard key size?

@ dannyrocket.. you will when you have no other option...

[Jahooba]

@budsalinger - "Is there a jailbreak app that will increase the keyboard key size?"

Sorry man, the keyboard is edge-to-edge as it is. Even if there were a way to increase the key space, you would also have to decrease the typing window, so you wouldn't be able to see much of what you just typed out - that would bother me a lot more than tiny keys.

You're absolutely right, though. I didn't realize how tiny iPhones were until I played with the Galaxy SIII in the store the other day. Holy crap, I thought, Apple's in trouble.

[spooneditr]

I don't even know if I want the new phone. That being said, I also wait until there is a JB for the phone before I upgrade. Would never use a non jailbroken iPhone ever again lol.

I 2nd this!