'iPhone 9' Production Reportedly Scheduled for February, But Could Be Impacted By Coronavirus Outbreak

[MacRumors]

Apple's production plans for the so-called "iPhone SE 2" or "iPhone 9" next month could face disruption due to the coronavirus outbreak that has caused more than 100 deaths in China, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

"iPhone 9" concept render by @OnLeaks via iGeeksBlog​

The vast majority of Apple's iPhones are made in China, by Foxconn in Zhengzhou and by Pegatron at an assembly plant near Shanghai. Both of the locations are more than 500 kilometers away from Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus outbreak, but Gurman suggests the distance "doesn't immunize them from its effects," and analysts he spoke to agreed.

"I can't imagine a scenario where the supply chain isn't disrupted," said veteran industry analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy. "If there's one major hiccup in the raw materials, fabrication, assembly, test, and shipping, it will be a disruption."

Apple typically launches its flagship smartphones around September, so the coronavirus shouldn't affect those plans, but Apple is also reportedly prepping a new low-cost iPhone that's set to be released during the first half of 2020 - possibly as early as March - which puts those mass production plans "more at risk," says Gurman.

Apple has booked orders for up to 65 million of its older iPhones and up to 15 million units of the "iPhone 9," according to the Nikkei Asian Review. Mass production of the new low-cost iPhone is reportedly due to start in the third week of February.

Confirmed cases of the coronavirus are rising in Henan province, where the Zhengzhou facility is located, and that could lead Foxconn or the government to close factories to prevent further contamination, according to Bloomberg's Matthew Kanterman.

Foxconn said it is monitoring the situation in China and following all recommended health practices. It declined to comment on production in specific locations but said, "We can confirm that we have measures in place to ensure that we can continue to meet all global manufacturing obligations."

Gurman notes that Apple dual-sources many of its components to mitigate the impact of extreme scenarios like the coronavirus. As such, a major immediate impact to its production plans is unlikely for now, according to a person familiar with its operations.

Over the weekend, Apple chief Tim Cook said in a tweet that the company intends to donate money in support of groups in China fighting the outbreak of the Coronavirus. A coronavirus is a family of viruses that include the common cold, but this particular virus causes severe acute respiratory infection and has never been detected before.

Article Link: 'iPhone 9' Production Reportedly Scheduled for February, But Could Be Impacted By Coronavirus Outbreak

 

[Windoes]

So iPhone 11 series might be the last iPhones ever
/Build a bunker

 

[sparkso]

I want iPhone 9.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Gurman occasionally gets a decent Apple-related tip, but neither he nor Bloomberg are a credible source of information—let alone speculation—regarding a potential epidemic or the impacts thereof.

Pre-conference call FUD, nothing more. A transparent attempt at price manipulation.

 

[SgtPepper12]

Coronavirus outbreak hits China, iPhone users most affected

 

[calstanford]

Stupid. Who gives a **** if the iPhones lame update comes a months late. Lives are at stake!

 

[Slash787]

iPhone Corona.

 

[[AUT] Thomas]

Of course that's the first thing that comes to my mind at a potential pandemic... the supply chain of a luxury product that's going to be released in 9 month.

 

[centauratlas]

Of course that's the first thing that comes to my mind at a potential pandemic... the supply chain of a luxury product that's going to be released in 9 month.

They are talking about the SE successor (out "perhaps as early as March") vs the 12 (or whatever the name will be) for the September timeframe.

I don't think it is the first thing that comes to anyone's mind, but people do think of more things than one at a time. 😀

 

[David1964]

Bloomberg and Macrumours should be ashamed of themselves for publishing this article.Lives are more important than the production of a smartphone.Disgraceful !

 

[Deadeyeshark]

We might not be here to buy one anyway.

 

[NBAasDOGG]

Even pathogens won’t stop me from selling junk...

- Tim

 

[MoreRumors?]

If production gets delayed, no big deal as lives are more important. Besides, we are used to seeing new iPhones in September.

 

[I7guy]

Even pathogens won’t stop me from selling junk...

- Tim

One mans junk...

 

[manu chao]

Gurman occasionally gets a decent Apple-related tip, but neither he nor Bloomberg are a credible source of information—let alone speculation—regarding a potential epidemic or the impacts thereof.

Pre-conference call FUD, nothing more. A transparent attempt at price manipulation.

Boy, if I had a penny every time somebody advanced a conspiracy theory ...

Do you really think it is healthy to always blame a conspiratorial nefarious intent behind everything you don't like?

 

[recoil80]

Of course that's the first thing that comes to my mind at a potential pandemic... the supply chain of a luxury product that's going to be released in 9 month.

Actually the article is about the iPhone supposed to be launched this spring, entering production next month.
It is not the end of the world if it gets delayed, but this site is about Apple news.

 

[Steve121178]

Bloomberg and Macrumours should be ashamed of themselves for publishing this article.Lives are more important than the production of a smartphone.Disgraceful !

Bloomberg is money/business focused, so why shouldn't they cover the impact the virus outbreak could have on business & revenue? Should they bury their heads in the sand so the professionally offended don't get offended?

 

[MoreRumors?]

iPhone Corona.

iPhone C?

 

[manu chao]

Bloomberg and Macrumours should be ashamed of themselves for publishing this article.Lives are more important than the production of a smartphone. Disgraceful !

Yeah, considering the economic consequences of a potential epidemic or even just of the measures that might prevent or contain it, is such a morally comprehensible thing. If any kind of disaster interrupts the supply of anything, we should not think about that or potentially try to source things from somewhere else? If something heavily affects the harvest of anything, we should not be thinking about, eg, organizing transport resources to provide the required products from elsewhere.

 

[waquzy]

Bloomberg and Macrumours should be ashamed of themselves for publishing this article.Lives are more important than the production of a smartphone.Disgraceful !

If this is true then why are people still dying from hunger in Africa?

 

[Heelpir8]

Bloomberg and Macrumours should be ashamed of themselves for publishing this article.Lives are more important than the production of a smartphone.Disgraceful !

They're not saying phones are more important than lives. They're saying the coronavirus could affect iPhone production. Hope your day hasn't been ruined.

 

[nylonsteel]

probably not a possibility but just thinking of contagious worker breathing on my new phone shipped to me...not

 

[Solomani]

No surprise news here. Yesterday the stock market had a mini-crash due mainly to the Coronavirus, with AAPL being one of the biggest stock market losses.

So this (Apple production could be affected due to China epidemic) is already "priced into the stock market", starting yesterday.

Any multinational that does heavy business with China or in China are taking a market beating this week. But as always, viruses like this will eventually be contained (e.g. SARS, H1N1, Avian, etc). Once there is containment, the market and optimism will bounce back as always. Buy on the dip!

 

[[AUT] Thomas]

They are talking about the SE successor (out "perhaps as early as March") vs the 12 (or whatever the name will be) for the September timeframe.

I don't think it is the first thing that comes to anyone's mind, but people do think of more things than one at a time. 😀

Well... then we are talking about availability of a phone that hasn't even been confirmed and may or may not launch in March...
Sure we can think of more than one thing at a time, but that's not a front-page news imho... it's speculation on top of speculation.

 

[kemal]

Lives >> Property.