iPhone 5s Inventory Said to Be 'Severely Constrained' at Launch

[Huracan]

The whole thing sounds iffy to me. If iPhone 5s was so severely constrained, why they didn't delay the launch one or two weeks to build enough inventory? They would have just needed to change one slide in the presentation Other than forcing people to line up (which might be the goal as it always makes the news) at stores I don't see much reason not to take pre-orders. Perhaps saving some money on shipping and handling?

 

[Spacial]

Maybe their sales forecasts say that this will be a weaker release than previous, and they're just preparing for that.

You may be 100% correct

 

[Blorzoga]

The major redesign comes with the number variant and not with the -S variant

That was my point. The first two were major redesigns, the third was a fingerprint scanner.

----------

By all means, reply to a conversation to which you do not know the context. You reply will be awesome.

Actually, you reply is better.

 

[tonybyatt]

All kinds of fail from Apple lately...I hope their upcoming Mac announcements and releases are better. I couldn't care less about the iPads...

 

[Spontida]

To anyone from last year who got the 5 at launch, was there a high inventory of unlocked iPhones?

 

[Blorzoga]

So by your logic, the name of the phone dictates whether or not the newer version is a major revision? In other words, if they would have called the exact same phone the iPhone 10, it would have been a major revision of several orders of magnitude.

Is that about right?

Now you're catching on. That's why it's not named iPhone10 (or 6, for that matter.) Apple knows what they're doing. If they thought it was a major update, they would have named it accordingly.

And by your logic, the 4S was a major revision from the 4, which we all know it was not.

 

[Aluminum213]

Oh, so it will be like every other iPhone launch ever?

The last 2 iPhones I was was EASILY able to grab one from the local verizon store


I doubt I can with the 5S

 

[osofast240sx]

Now you're catching on. That's why it's not named iPhone10 (or 6, for that matter.) Apple knows what they're doing. If they thought it was a major update, they would have named it accordingly.

Let's be clear it was a major update internally. Now for the external redesign there is not too many more shapes that you can make a phone unless you want a phone shaped like a football.

 

[xNYMetsx]

And you can? Where are the 64bit android phones? Where are the android phone with a motion co-processor?

64 bit is pretty much useless without the RAM. I really wish they just kept the same bit to save the battery life.

 

[ghettochris]

I wonder how it would go if apple did this, it's crazy how much happier tons of people would be even though $100 is a drop in the bucket compared to what you're paying per month to use it.

prices on contract (5C slides down a notch in price, 5S goes up a notch in memory)
5C 16: $0
5C 32: $100

5S 32: $200
5S 64: $300
5S 128: $400


They could make a statement that said "we make so damn much money, we're ok with slightly lower margins". Even better would be a buyback and then turning it into a nonprofit to make the lives of mankind better, with everyone still getting paid well and a massive budget of course. that would probably drop prices down another notch. 5C 16 GB $100 cash back!

 

[thedeske]

To anyone from last year who got the 5 at launch, was there a high inventory of unlocked iPhones?

I remember unlocked not being available unless you were still in contract. After inventory loosened it was an option.
It was an option for me on the first day and I bought it. This year I'll go back into subs and get some of the money back. Next year, likely full price again if I want to update on release again.

This little habit makes a 16gb phone 450 or so each time. I basically paid into this year by buying full price last year.

 

[Blorzoga]

I wonder how it would go if apple did this, it's crazy how much happier tons of people would be even though $100 is a drop in the bucket compared to what you're paying per month to use it.

prices on contract (5C slides down a notch in price, 5S goes up a notch in memory)
5C 16: $0
5C 32: $100

5S 32: $200
5S 64: $300
5S 128: $400


They could make a statement that said "we make so damn much money, we're ok with slightly lower margins". Even better would be a buyback and then turning it into a nonprofit to make the lives of mankind better, with everyone still getting paid well and a massive budget of course. that would probably drop prices down another notch. 5C 16 GB $100 cash back!

Sure, if we lived in a fantasy world where there were no shareholders.

 

[kobalap]

Now you're catching on. That's why it's not named iPhone10 (or 6, for that matter.) Apple knows what they're doing. If they thought it was a major update, they would have named it accordingly.

And by your logic, the 4S was a major revision from the 4, which we all know it was not.

I haven't seen Apple characterize this phone as "not a major update". If you have, I'd love to see the source. Or perhaps you are an Apple spokesperson that has been authorized to post publicly on behalf of Apple at forums infested with trolls.

The context of the set of replies you replied to is that it is difficult to manufacture the 5s en masse as there are major updates to the 5s - including major components that have never been used in previous generations of iPhones (finger print sensor, new CPU). Whether or not you consider the 5s a major update is beside the point. It doesn't make the phone any easier for Apple to build in huge quantities if parts like the CPU or the finger print sensor or the hydro spanner are not being manufactured by suppliers in the required quantities.

Oh, and by my logic, its moronic to try to infer whether or not a new anything is a major or a minor update from its predecessor simply by looking at its name.

 

[Daremo]

iPhone 5s. The "s" is for "scarce."

 

[BigHonkingDeal]

Why? Besides the novelty factor, what percentage of people would use their phone in wet conditions, under water or in the toilet?

Says the man who lives where it rains half the year

Here in Florida life revolves around water.... I would love not to have to worry around the pool.

http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7tAC/at-and-t-samsung-galaxy-s4-active-whatever-proof

 

[daneoni]

Was thinking about upgrading to a 32GB 5S (currently own a 16GB 5). So glad i kept hold of my iP5 this time and wasn't trigger happy like previous launches. They keep making my decision to just stick with my iP5 easier.

Shambolic launch. Reminds me of the 2012 iMac launch.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

i don't know if people have lined up for iphones lately, but apple basically hands out numbers so nobody is waiting hours and realizing there's no supply left

 

[iOSGoober]

Yes, the gold one is faster than the other two colors. People missed that small tid bit in the specs.

I know! Crazy, right?? That and the levitation capabilities of the Grey model are not getting the attention they deserve at all. Minor update my a....

 

[DIRSGT]

I think it may be due to the finger print sensor adding difficulties to production.

It may also be a way to sell more iPhone 5c models since they have you in the store. Remember earlier in the year Tim was noted as saying that he wanted to increase in store traffic for cross selling opportunities...or maybe they just want to create a demand for the product by having a limited supply.

People always want what they can not have right away.

 

[kobalap]

I wonder how it would go if apple did this, it's crazy how much happier tons of people would be even though $100 is a drop in the bucket compared to what you're paying per month to use it.

prices on contract (5C slides down a notch in price, 5S goes up a notch in memory)
5C 16: $0
5C 32: $100

5S 32: $200
5S 64: $300
5S 128: $400


They could make a statement that said "we make so damn much money, we're ok with slightly lower margins". Even better would be a buyback and then turning it into a nonprofit to make the lives of mankind better, with everyone still getting paid well and a massive budget of course. that would probably drop prices down another notch. 5C 16 GB $100 cash back!

Pfft.

Apple and every other publicly traded corporation in this world, they are not charities. They are "for profit" businesses. And by for profit, I mean "make every single nickel they can".

The only way Apple is making the lives of anybody better is if there is a buck in it for Apple.

 

[binaryskies]

Anyone know if store pickup will be an option if we order it online at 3am (in Va)?

 

[paulsdenton]

Ironically - most of the people you probably consider trolls are long time Apple fans who are frustrated or whatever. Just because someone speaks "against" Apple or one of their products doesn't make them a troll - paid or otherwise.

But if you sleep better at night believing that anyone that dares to think differently than you is being paid or otherwise to do so - then sweet dreams

I would like to think that this is so; but the level of mindless vituperation that pervades many of these posts does make you wonder about the motivations of the posters. Really goes beyond "disappointment".

 

[kobalap]

I would like to think that this is so; but the level of mindless vituperation that pervades many of these posts does make you wonder about the motivations of the posters. Really goes beyond "disappointment".

I'd like to think people are more intelligent what their internet posts would indicate.

The jury is still out though.

 

[wlossw]

I have a friend that works at a local Big Box store in Montreal. He told me they recieved only 7 total iphone 5s per carrier and none of them are 64gig models...

 

[Glideslope]

Methinks means "it seems to me" and is not two words. What's your evidence regarding your claim?

Rumors.