'iPhone 8' Still Expected to Launch in September in Limited Quantities

[MacRumors]

Apple's widely rumored high-end iPhone with a 5.8-inch edge-to-edge OLED display will launch in September, although the majority of stock may not be available until later in the fourth quarter, according to the latest research from Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis, Christopher Hemmelgarn, Thomas O'Malley, and Jerry Zhang.

"iPhone X" concept by designer Gabor Balogh​

The prediction suggests that Apple's tenth-anniversary iPhone, which has been variously dubbed the iPhone 8, iPhone X, iPhone Pro, or iPhone Edition, will still be available in limited quantities in September. However, shipping estimates could slip to several weeks out just minutes after pre-orders begin.

What do you think Apple's rumored "special edition" iPhone will be called? Tweet us your own ideas. - MacRumors.com (@MacRumors) March 18, 2017

An excerpt from the Barclays research note obtained by MacRumors:

Suppliers generally had good things to say about the upcoming iPhone 8 launch (for our purposes iPhone 7s, iPhone 7s Plus, and iPhone Pro) as new features drive a more complicated manufacturing process and higher ASPs. We now believe that all three devices will feature wireless charging and will all be launched in the normal September timeframe, although the majority of iPhone Pro volumes may not be available until Q4.

Barclays contradicts a recent report that claimed the 5.8-inch iPhone will be announced alongside updated 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models, or the so-called iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus, but might not go on sale until much later.

By the sounds of it, availability of Apple's first iPhone with an OLED display could be similar to the iPhone 7 Plus in Jet Black, which was virtually nowhere to be found through the holiday shopping season last year. When an Apple Store or reseller happened to get a few Jet Black models in stock, they sold out almost instantly.

The analysts, citing information from Apple's supply chain following a trip to Asia earlier this month, also reiterated their expectations for the 5.8-inch iPhone. Many of its predictions echo those already made by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a respectable track record at revealing Apple's plans.

Barclays said the phone will feature a 5.8-inch display with 5.15 inches of usable screen, as Kuo said. It expects Touch ID to be embedded in the display, and the remaining space could be for virtual buttons. It believes the device will have wireless charging, but wireless charging accessories will be sold separately.

It said the 5.8-inch iPhone's stacked logic board design will provide more space for a larger battery and other components, as Kuo previously said. Other features Barclays expects include a front-facing 3D sensor module, the same dual camera setup as the iPhone 7 Plus, and a film-based Force Touch solution.

Article Link: 'iPhone 8' Still Expected to Launch in September in Limited Quantities

 

[VARTV]

Great!

 

[Sunny1990]

long shipping dates and Limited stock will ruin the excitement

 

[dominiongamma]

Apple does this build hype every year. Make a few to make you want it more.

 

[avanpelt]

Tim 'supply chain expert' Cook strikes again! I'll go ahead and give him the benefit of the doubt that perhaps the "iPhone 8" is so revolutionary that only very few manufacturers can produce it to Apple's exacting standards, thus lowering the amount of product that can be produced.

Well, it's either that or they're purposely doing this to inflate the demand. Not sure which.

 

[macslayer118]

Every year. This article is the same every year.

 

[dannyyankou]

That concept looks weird. Maybe it's just the app icons.

 

[Dilster3k]

Really can't believe we won't be getting new hardware until September... Seems to me like this pipeline doesn't exist.

Within the two Sep. / Oct. events, Apple will need to redeem the iPad (doubtful) & entire Mac line-up and I also doubt they'll be able to pull it off. Not to forget the current iPhone and Watch are sporting the same exterior designs from 2014!

 

[Dwalls90]

Obviously it will be announced around the time as the 7S.

However, it could ship later by a week or so.

No one's surprised it will be in limited quantity.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Apple does this build hype every year. Make a few to make you want it more.

And people say this every year, that Apple hold off on stock to artificially inflate demand. It's ridiculous. The truth is much simpler; they're very desirable phones and Apple can't make them quick enough.

 

[CarpalMac]

Treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen....

 

[themick4u]

At least they are admitting it ahead of time and not letting us wonder on pre-order night!

 

[arggg14]

The truth is much simpler; they're very desirable phones and Apple can't make them quick enough.

That logic just completely baffles me. While the the manufacturers very well might not be able to crank them out quick enough, if Apple really wanted to solve this problem, they could. Supplies have been "constrained" for 10 years now.

 

[MrGimper]

"Edition" is such a stupid name for product in the way Apple use it. iPhone Edition, Apple Watch Edition, etc. Makes more sense if named iPhone Pro Edition, iPhone Anniversary Edition or Apple Watch Ceramic Edition. Just using product name and "Edition" just doesn't work.

 

[Bryan Bowler]

Useless banter. This early in the game you can make up any rumor you want. No one knows what will happen this far out.

 

[keysofanxiety]

That logic just completely baffles me. While the the manufacturers very well might not be able to crank them out quick enough, if Apple really wanted to solve this problem, they could. Supplies have been "constrained" for 10 years now.

Apple sold 10 million iPhone 6 devices in the first weekend. Even more for the 6S.

Just go on sales for the first 6 months and the shipping numbers would show you that they'll have to crank about 800,000 phones out a day. That's an awful lot. If you're talking about logic, do the maths and you'll see it's pretty obvious.

Apple don't artificially inflate demand. The demand is very real.

 

[Carmenia83]

At least they are admitting it ahead of time and not letting us wonder on pre-order night!

They aren't admitting anything. This from analysts. I would bet they're correct though, considering the same thing happens every year. I'm gonna go get in line this weekend.

 

[I7guy]

It's gonna sell like hot cakes. The rumored 7s will also sell like hot cakes.

 

[CarpalMac]

And people say this every year, that Apple hold off on stock to artificially inflate demand. It's ridiculous. The truth is much simpler; they're very desirable phones and Apple can't make them quick enough.

Not the case with concert tickets and I don't think it is at all ridiculous to suggest the same goes here. It is incredibly easy press and good sales strategy to be able to say "sold out due to huge demand" with more on way soon.

Demand drives demand.

 

[mattopotamus]

For people complaining about stock, wake up at the preorder time and use the Apple Store app. I have done this year after year with every single Apple product and never had an issues. If you are 30 minutes late, guess what......well you know what happens.

edit: oh and you know the new color or "black" Plus with the largest storage will be gone first. Did I miss anything?

 

[Pbrutto]

So basically....it will be like every other iPhone launch

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Oh, so it will be like a normal iPhone launch. Honestly, I wouldn't have assumed anything different. Esp. in the TC era nothing Apple launches in quantity IF it launches on time.

 

[2ilent8cho]

And people say this every year, that Apple hold off on stock to artificially inflate demand. It's ridiculous. The truth is much simpler; they're very desirable phones and Apple can't make them quick enough.

Yep and despite the Apples sales figures showing they sold more and more iPhones year after year , some people still insist they are purposely limiting production.

 

[arggg14]

Apple sold 10 million iPhone 6 devices in the first weekend. Even more for the 6S.

Just go on sales for the first 6 months and the shipping numbers would show you that they'll have to crank about 800,000 phones out a day. That's an awful lot. If you're talking about logic, do the maths and you'll see it's pretty obvious.

Apple don't artificially inflate demand. The demand is very real.

Of course the demand is real. My point is the most valuable tech brand is the world should be able to solve this problem if they wanted to.

 

[69Mustang]

And people say this every year, that Apple hold off on stock to artificially inflate demand. It's ridiculous. The truth is much simpler; they're very desirable phones and Apple can't make them quick enough.

I agree the conspiracy rhetoric is slightly silly, but it has a hint of truth in it. Apple can't underestimate their sales every year. That's just not possible (a bit of hyperbole, yes). At some point someone, somewhere, somehow would question: How do we end up supply constrained every year?

How is it you figure Apple can't make phones quick enough? Mis-identifying the right mix of product? I get that. Simply not being able to make enough? Yeah, that doesn't make any sense. Especially, every single year.