iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max Supplies Could Be Constrained at Launch Due to Display Manufacturing Issues

[MacRumors]

Apple is running into difficulties with iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max display manufacturing, which could lead to a limited number of devices being available at launch in September.

Rumors have suggested that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will have slimmer bezels than the iPhone 14 Pro models, and it is this decrease in bezel size that is creating issues.

According to The Information, Apple suppliers are using a new display manufacturing process to shrink the bezel size, and it is causing problems with displays made by LG Display. Apple had a similar problem with the Apple Watch Series 7 display size increase in 2019, and that device was delayed by about a month.

The LG displays are failing reliability tests during a process where the display is fused to the metal shell. Apple is tweaking the design of the LG display so it can pass the tests, and it still has displays from Samsung that it can use for assembly.

The Information does not believe that Apple will delay the launch of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, but will instead have fewer units available at launch, leading to shortages. The manufacturing issue will hit the iPhone 15 Pro Max the hardest, and it sounds like it will be the device that will be most difficult to get at launch.

It is not unusual for at least one iPhone model to be in short supply, and there have been launch situations where the iPhone models sell out entirely and people are left waiting for months for Apple to ramp up production and meet demand. In this situation, Apple will likely see its profit margins impacted and its holiday quarter revenue lower than expected.

Earlier today, a report from Bank of America global securities analyst Wamsi Mohan suggested that Apple's iPhone 15 devices could be delayed by a "few weeks," but he did not provide a reason for the delay. It sounds like he heard hints of the display manufacturing issue and figured it would lead to a delayed October launch, but The Information thinks Apple will still launch in September as expected.

The Information claims that the iPhone 15 Pro models are now at the "risk ramp" manufacturing stage at Foxconn, with the company testing how reliably the devices can be built without defects. Mass production is expected to begin in August.



Article Link: iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max Supplies Could Be Constrained at Launch Due to Display Manufacturing Issues

 

[temende]

Literally exact same rumor every year lol

 

[gigapocket1]

Literally exact same rumor every year lol

Literally.. I think it was only true one year. When they released them a month after the keynote. But it’s going to sell out first weekend. Like normal.

 

[MacWiz_007]

Never heard this one before!!!

 

[macsplusmacs]

Same song. Different year.

 

[jz0309]

what a surprise, this has never happened before ...
/s

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Analysts: We're seeing this specific manufacturing issue, with this specific supplier, due to this specific change in the phones this year

MacRumors: "Same thing every year" 🙄

 

[xxray]

14 Pro models were really hard to get for the first couple months of launch. I’m dreading this if it’s a similar experience for the 15 Pro models.

 

[thadoggfather]

LG makes great OLED tv's but I guess don't wanna be caught with an LG panel in your iPhone seems their mobile screens are well behind Shamedung

 

[jjrich1995]

Another year, another supply chain rumor 😂

 

[RUQRU]

Don't care. I will order my 15 Pro Max as soon as the Apple Store opens for orders, just like every year.

 

[FreedomStyle]

Create rumor of supply chain issues, limited supply, availability and drive up demand. Same story year after year. We will see the normal launch day rush with widespread availability within the month.

 

[ELman]

14 Pro models were really hard to get for the first couple months of launch. I’m dreading this if it’s a similar experience for the 15 Pro models.

Or you could just wait for the 16.

 

[ACHD]

LG makes great OLED tv's but I guess don't wanna be caught with an LG panel in your iPhone seems their mobile screens are well behind Shamedung

If you read the article it mentions APPLE is tweaking the design indiacting its an issue with the design.

Apple designs these and the others make them. The issue isn't with the panels themselves but when they get mounted to the phone. So the issue is an unforeseen design issue.

Otherwise LG would be completely remaking these as any big mfg does when ordering parts and they fail. So it appears its passing QA but there's an issue mounting them which is on both fronts apples design issue.

People think these providers do all of the design when in reality its apple who does the design and sends the orders off.

 

[WWPD]

I hope LG can get this display manufacturing thing down in time, I know they are new to this so I can cut them some slack. /s

 

[one more]

Don’t panic people, Apple will figure it all out, just as they did year after year.

 

[thegerman]

All OLEDs has issues, like green tint and yellowish screen! No OLEDs from apple are perfect

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

Like this never happened before

 

[thadoggfather]

If you read the article it mentions APPLE is tweaking the design indiacting its an issue with the design.

Apple designs these and the others make them. The issue isn't with the panels themselves but when they get mounted to the phone. So the issue is an unforeseen design issue.

Otherwise LG would be completely remaking these as any big mfg does when ordering parts and they fail. So it appears its passing QA but there's an issue mounting them which is on both fronts apples design issue.

People think these providers do all of the design when in reality its apple who does the design and sends the orders off.

Yeah but youre responding to arguments I simply didn’t make?

 

[BorisDG]

And again LG is the suspect... how surprising. They just need to use Samsung.

 

[poematik13]

Was this article written by chatgpt? The watch series 7 was not released in 2019 lol

 

[Lakersfan74]

I was going to get the 15 Pro Max but I’m going to wait. My 12 Pro still works great and is at 88% battery. I’m going to wait until I actually need something instead of wanting something.

 

[R4O8]

With the 14 series, in February still, all carriers and retailers in my country (EU) had a supply problem. They would get about dozen iPhones every 4-6 weeks, usually in black color. I’m talking about major carriers and their online stores which cover entire country. Only regular 14 was almost always in stock.
I ended up buying used iPhone 12 Pro because I was tired of constantly calling and checking their websites for the 14 Pro in configuration I wanted.
So, even if US doesn’t end up having major supply issues this year, it’s notable to consider Apple likely prioritizes that market over the rest of the world.

 

[BreakingKayfabe]

I was going to get the 15 Pro Max but I’m going to wait. My 12 Pro still works great and is at 88% battery. I’m going to wait until I actually need something instead of wanting something.

This is hilarious to me because my launch day 14 Pro Max is at 90% battery capacity. The batteries on the 14 series suck.

 

[killawat]

For people like me still poking around on an iPhone 12 (I know, I know) the iPhone 15 is a must have. A usb-c port is all I need.