Apple Expected to Trial Production of 2018 iPhone Lineup Earlier to Avoid Last Year's Supply Bottleneck

[MacRumors]

Apple is expected to begin trial production of a trio of new iPhone models in the second quarter of 2018 at the earliest, as it looks to avoid a repeat of the issues caused by the initial low yield rates on production of 3D sensor modules for the iPhone X last year, according to Taiwanese website DigiTimes.

iPhone X2, iPhone X2 Plus, and iPhone SE 2 mockup by Curved.de​

The report, citing supply chain sources, claims Apple's fast-tracking of the trial production will help push ahead the delivery schedules for the 2018 iPhones, meaning it should have more plentiful supply available for pre-orders.

The sources cited add that sales of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X have been "lower than expected," but they believe the earlier production will help Apple to "rekindle" its smartphone momentum. Apple's supply chain partners are said to be "generally more optimistic" about order prospects this year.

Leading up to the iPhone X launch, multiple reports claimed Apple was having issues with ramping up production of the device. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo pegged the TrueDepth camera system as the primary reason for the supply bottleneck, due to its complex 3D facial recognition technologies.

Kuo added that the yield issues began to stabilize by late October, but when pre-orders began on October 27, shipping estimates for the iPhone X quickly fell back to 5-6 weeks around the world. The estimates gradually improved over the following weeks, and the device was fully in stock by mid December.

Looking ahead, Apple is widely rumored to launch a so-called iPhone X2, iPhone X2 Plus, and a cheaper 6.1-inch model with Face ID, but with design tradeoffs like an LCD screen and no wireless charging. And if today's report proves accurate, getting your hands on one of the new models should be easier this fall.

Article Link: Apple Expected to Trial Production of 2018 iPhone Lineup Earlier to Avoid Last Year's Supply Bottleneck

 

[AngerDanger]

dat iPhone SE 2. want.

Curved.de has more mockups:



Honestly, this thing looks perpetually futuristic—like, remember in 2006 when Apple was believed to be making a touchscreen iPod that became the iPhone? Remember reduced-bezel mockups from 2014? Here they are.

 

[jsmith189]

"Trial"
"Production"
"2018"
"Earlier"

Lmao. Genius.

 

[Naimfan]

At $1k for a phone a lot of people will still pass.

It'd be good if Apple could put a similar level of thought into the Mac Pro . . .

 

[Kabeyun]

SE2SE2SE2SE2SE2SE2SE2SE2SE2SE2!!
Bring it. We want it.

 

[alex00100]

They’ll get their sales when they drop that price. It’s high for US costumers and you can imagine how insane it is for the rest of the world where salaries are 1/3 of Americans or lower.

 

[MrGimper]

"Part-leak-tastic!"

 

[makingdots]

Yeah SE2... as if Apple will really put their latest featured technology that still have supply constraint in their cheapest phone. LMAO, lots of this forum folks are gonna be disappointed.

 

[Val-kyrie]

SE2 but ... no notch please. I'd be happy with updated internals and maybe a glass back. I so miss my iPhone 4.

 

[Agit21]

I WANT THAT SE2 NOW!

 

[iapplelove]

I don’t understand another SE or the desire? Maybe just for size? Cause I should would rather buy a discounted iPhone X or 8 plus next year if I wanted to save some money.

 

[Andres Cantu]

Good, this means earlier leaks.

 

[dominiongamma]

SE looks great however expect to have lcd screen and not the newest tech

 

[Glideslope]

At $1k for a phone a lot of people will still pass.

It'd be good if Apple could put a similar level of thought into the Mac Pro . . .

Thank you. Made my day.

 

[tdar]

I do wonder if we have not hit peek iPhone. Another $1000 iPhone to upgrade to, that is almost like the $1000 iPhone I am still paying for. I don't see how this goes on every year unless the volumes are expected to drop.

 

[xalea]

Okay so we are supposed to call the iPhone X the "ten" right? (not 'eks'). So is the iPhone X2 the "iPhone ten-two" ? What happens in 2020 when there is the iPhone "ten-four" ? Won't that confuse our CB radio friends?

 

[Cesar Battistini]

I do wonder if we have not hit peek iPhone. Another $1000 iPhone to upgrade to, that is almost like the $1000 iPhone I am still paying for. I don't see how this goes on every year unless the volumes are expected to drop.

I'm waiting for this years iPhone X to upgrade! I don't buy first generations.

 

[otternonsense]

Oh boy. I've been dreaming of a full front screen on an i-Device since the 2008 iPod touch, but to put a notch on the 5S frame? It's not just bad looking, it's illogical. The notch is there and in its current size to accommodate a super tight array of sensors, the sound piece and the camera module. It's not something you can liberally resize per device ratio. Unless Apple removes the FaceID module completely, but then how do you access TouchID?

 

[Kabeyun]

I don’t understand another SE or the desire? Maybe just for size? Cause I should would rather buy a discounted iPhone X or 8 plus next year if I wanted to save some money.

Exactly right, it’s the size. I’m not composing literature with my thumbs (which can’t even reach across the screen of my 8) and I’m not watching “high-def” movies on an iPhone. I want an easily pocketable one-handed device. I just found my old 4 and it was absolutely perfect.

 

[asdavis10]

If Apple doesn't have an iPhone 9/Plus model then this is a must. The only reason the delayed iPhone X launch didn't hurt Apple is because they had the 8/Plus.

At the end of the day, an updated iPhone X and Plus model with an updated iPhone SE would be hard for any company to match. Especially considering the iPhone 7/Plus and 8/Plus will get price drops. Apple's phone lineup is pretty impressive.

 

[deanthedev]

Why would they put a more expensive notched display with rounded corners into their cheapest phone?

All they need to do is reduce the top & bottom bezels and leave just enough space for FaceID. You get FaceID, more screen space than the current SE and you keep the exact same dimensions/case size (reuse existing tooling/components).

 

[rishic89]

Okay so we are supposed to call the iPhone X the "ten" right? (not 'eks'). So is the iPhone X2 the "iPhone ten-two" ? What happens in 2020 when there is the iPhone "ten-four" ? Won't that confuse our CB radio friends?

iPhone X snow leopard

 

[Ivan0310]

Reading the caption for the picture in the article--iPhone X2? What is this? Final Fantasy?

 

[MrBat]

I don’t understand another SE or the desire? Maybe just for size? Cause I should would rather buy a discounted iPhone X or 8 plus next year if I wanted to save some money.

Exactly. The size.

At least for me, the price was not a factor to get the SE. Still, why not, was real nice to get it for "cheap".

Also, the 3.5mm jack is truly appreciated.

 

[thenewyorkgod]

dat iPhone SE 2. want.

Curved.de has more mockups:

View attachment 755261

Honestly, this thing looks perpetually futuristic—like, remember in 2006 when Apple was believed to be making a touchscreen iPod that become the iPhone? Remember reduced-bezel mockups from 2014? Here they are.

I LOVE my SE for the form factor and size. Any guess as to the screen size if they keep the body the same size but remove bezels?
[doublepost=1521724539][/doublepost]

Okay so we are supposed to call the iPhone X the "ten" right? (not 'eks'). So is the iPhone X2 the "iPhone ten-two" ? What happens in 2020 when there is the iPhone "ten-four" ? Won't that confuse our CB radio friends?

I bet they stop using numbers at this point and follow what they do with the laptops and ipads. Have an iPhone, iPhone Pro , iPhone air, etc and simply have year of release in parenthesis