DigiTimes: Apple's Travel Restrictions Could Delay iPhone 12 Launch Until October

[MacRumors]

Apple's ban on its engineers from traveling to Asia in the wake of the coronavirus has affected the development of its next-generation iPhone which could result in a delayed fall launch, claims a new report today from DigiTimes.

According to the supply chain-focused Taiwanese publication, Apple has extended the deadline by one month to the end of April for the removal of a set of travel restrictions preventing its engineers from making business trips to Asia, and the restrictions have delayed the engineering verification tests (EVTs) for the 5G iPhones at manufacturing facilities in China.

Related supply chain makers had originally expected the rescheduled EVT procedures to be carried out by the end of March enabling the kick-off of volume production of the new iPhone devices in June, said the sources, adding that a further delay of EVT tests to the end of April could postpone the volume production by another 1-2 months.

Judging from the revised EVT schedule, Apple's product launch for the next-generation iPhone devices could to be postponed to October, said the sources.

The claim follows a Bloomberg article published over the weekend that quotes a report from Bank of America analysts suggesting Apple's 5G iPhone release could be delayed by a month this fall.

Apple's travel restrictions were first reported late last month. The restrictions apply to several countries hit by the coronavirus outbreak, including China, which is an issue because Apple engineers often visit China at this time of year to prepare for the manufacturing of new iPhones.

Production of new devices usually kicks off in the summer, but during the first months of the year, Apple employees visit China to perfect assembly processes with manufacturing partners like Foxconn.

These delays could eat into the time Apple needs to finalize orders for chips and other iPhone components that need to be made well in advance of when full production begins. However, supply chain experts told Reuters in late February that Apple still has time to keep the ?iPhone? schedule on track, despite the travel restrictions.

"We have instituted specific travel restrictions in a few countries including China, South Korea, and Italy," Apple said in a memo sent out to employees last week. Apple is recommending that employees manage meetings through phone calls and video chats instead.

Apple plans to release four new iPhone models in the fall, according to respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The all-OLED lineup is said to consist of 5.4-inch, two 6.1-inch, and 6.7-inch models, all of which will support 5G.

DigiTimes predicts that overall shipments of 5G-enabled smartphones will be much lower in the first-half of 2020 than originally expected, due to the influence of the outbreak.

Article Link: DigiTimes: Apple's Travel Restrictions Could Delay iPhone 12 Launch Until October

 

[Justin Cymbal]

The Coronavirus might cause Apple to delay the next iPhone until October or even later..

The iPhone 4S was released October 14, 2011 before Apple changed to the September release for the iPhone 5

 

[fokmik]

Digitimes loves to copy and paste someone elses rumours because they dont have real insiders

 

[recoil80]

They might end up releasing it in october

The iPhone 4S was released October 14, 2011 before Apple changed to the September release

iPhone X was released in November, the Xr in late October.
People on the iPhone Upgrade Program would complain, as they expect to upgrade their phones after 12 months, but it is not the end of the world.
If iPhone is postponed, maybe iOS 14 will be, unless they are able to launch the new Apple Watch in September and the new watchOS requires iOS 14.

 

[Lozza013]

Oh well. Health is more important than iPhones. I’m happy to wait for the new iPhone or maybe even delay my new iPhone to 2021 model.

 

[himanshumodi]

Several iPhones have launched in October. This is not much of a delay at all, if these timelines hold good.

 

[rew f fwd]

Health is the most important thing! there are more important things than a new iPhone

 

[newyorksole]

Health is the most important thing! there are more important things than a new iPhone

Jeez no one is saying iPhones are more important than health Lol. Idk why you guys keep saying these statements.

Websites are simply just reporting the news. It’s possible to care about health and still have curiosity when the new iPhones will come out.

No one is going to riot over a delayed iPhone and consumers have no say in the matter either way. These are just simply articles with information.

 

[shinkansenwarrior]

Oh well. Health is more important than iPhones. I’m happy to wait for the new iPhone or maybe even delay my new iPhone to 2021 model.

Me too, but it might not be so healthy for Apple!

 

[44267547]

So...Macrumors rehashes another article of something that we are already aware of?😁

Yes, for like the umpteenth article, the ‘iPhone has the potential be delayed’. We get it.

 

[Winni]

Me too, but it might not be so healthy for Apple!

They have a trillion dollars to help them ride out the storm. I guess they'll be just fine.

 

[Ramchi]

Teams working on 5G model get more time! Also, if that means Apple going to miss holiday season? I don’t think so!

 

[narr]

Why is everyone talking about aniPhone 12? Maybe it will be called iPhone 11 S?

 

[Bocconucci]

So...Macrumors rehashes another article of something that we are already aware of?😁

Yes, for like the umpteenth article, the ‘iPhone has the potential be delayed’. We get it.

Let’s hope that this kind of article will be repeated another 300 times - until the Apple Pensionado Board realizes it should spread iPhone production/provisioning across the globe

 

[childlost]

So there's a virus spreading exponentially all over the world and we should worry about the freakin' iPhone whatever being postponed?

 

[magicschoolbus]

Yes, lets all live in a bubble because of a virus similar to the flu.

Talk about mass hysteria. Unreal.

 

[Rojaaemon]

Insider scoop: "Unannounced iPhone release schedule may be delayed."

 

[Sasparilla]

No big deal, although time will tell on the date.

 

[JosephAW]

Maybe they should just skip an iOS and hardware updates and focus on making iOS 13 Rick solid for another year.
It would have been better for Apple to slow down the yearly releases of iOS and make them stable. We could have been on an unified iOS 10.9.x by now for all devices with all the latest bells and whistles instead of 13.3.x.

 

[newyorksole]

Why is everyone talking about aniPhone 12? Maybe it will be called iPhone 11 S?

It’s expected that the form factor will change, thus introducing an iPhone 12 instead of an 11S. I don’t think people would be very happy if it was just an incremental upgrade Lol.

When Apple introduced 3G they changed the design. When they introduced 4G they changed the design. Seems to be the trend.
[automerge]1583756878[/automerge]

So there's a virus spreading exponentially all over the world and we should worry about the freakin' iPhone whatever being postponed?

Yeah because people aren’t 1 dimensional and can be interested in / focus on more than 1 things. Heck! More than 2 things!

It’s also possible that there are people responsible for containing the virus and another set of people who are trying to get their companies back on track.

 

[SBlue1]

So there's a virus spreading exponentially all over the world and we should worry about the freakin' iPhone whatever being postponed?

The smartphone industry has a lot of jobs depending on it. So the virus is not just affecting your health but also your job if you are in the travel industry, a shipbuilder, fair organizer and so on.

 

[Eagle1337]

if its only delayed till October I would be surprised.. or impressed. whichever comes first I hope they value safety of employees over sales. -I dont mind waiting a tad for my 12 Pro Max

 

[yaxomoxay]

So there's a virus spreading exponentially all over the world and we should worry about the freakin' iPhone whatever being postponed?

Yes, because economic damage could be long term and very serious, especially if high-profile products such as the iPhone are affected by it.

 

[GuilleA]

Why is everyone talking about aniPhone 12? Maybe it will be called iPhone 11 S?

After the iPhone 7 there was no 7S, but and 8 and a X. No 9. Then a XS (and Xr). Later an 11 (and a Pro... and a Pro Max), still no 9. So I think that sometime soon this whole naming cluster**** should be re-done.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Just go to work and quit whining and worrying about this made up pandemic.