iPhone X Supply Revised Lower Yet Again as TrueDepth System Still Faces Production Issues

[NT1440]

- The iPhone 5S was supposed to be delayed over issues with the fingerprint sensor.
- The 6 was supposed to be delayed due to production issues with the 5.5” display, and would launch much later than the 4.7” version.
- The 6S was supposed to be delayed because Pegatron and Foxconn couldn’t get production lines ready fast enough.
- The iPhone 7 was supposed to have supply issues resulting in shortages and lower than expected sales.

See any pattern here? There’s ALWAYS some doom & gloom issue related to delays.

These analysts are like the boy who cried wolf. They are constantly wrong yet people still keep believing what they say.

You're entirely right, on the re-occurance (like ****ing clockwork) of supply chain rumors every. single. year.

What you're wrong on is the analogy to the boy who cried wolf. These rumors serve a purpose, it's to the benefit of people shorting Apple's stock.

Jim Cramer (an *******) casually explained this years ago:

The exact thing John Stewart ripped him to shreds over. In this case Cramer is just the messenger for a practice that is crystal clear if you're paying attention.

 

[Constable Odo]

Doesn't matter. MacRumors members made it very clear as soon as the phone was announced that it's far too high priced to ever sell and no one will want to buy it. With no demand for it, supply shouldn't be an issue.

It certainly had been claimed that almost no person on the planet could afford a $999 smartphone. It's cost practically put the iPhone X up with the likes of a Pagani Zonda or Bugatti Chiron. All the rich people in the world have suddenly run out of money and couldn't ante up for the iPhone X.
/s
What a bunch of idiots. $999 too much to pay for a smartphone. Wow!

Apple really pulled a boner on component supply with the iPhone X but these things certainly can happen when yield numbers are low.

 

[sdwaltz]

And if the X is NOT going to be in short supply you would be sad that you went with the 8 Plus?

Not at all. I'm not ready for Face ID and I'm not ready to give up the home button just yet. That was the primary driver of my decision. I'm simply saying I'm glad that's the phone I wanted anyway because these supply issues would be driving me bonkers if I had decided to wait and get the X.

 

[fourthtunz]

Only if you don’t like the notch. Which is your opinion.

It’s better to release a fully functional, revolutionary device with a notch.

See? An opinion makes a statement wonderful.

yeah, I'd rather have the functional notch rather than a black bar at the top like other phones.

 

[RtWrecklezX]

There will be riots on these forums on the 27th and 3rd.

 

[Col4bin]

Hopefully there's no concerns or issues with the actual production units upon consumers getting them in-hand. I'm so tempted to pre-order and upgrade my 7S Plus, but I think I will hold off until next year.

 

[deany]

What evidence do you have that they "felt compelled"? I expect they've been working for a while towards having a premium-tier iPhone, where they could charge more, use more expensive components that they can't yet get in the huge quantities necessary for main-line iPhone production, and get additional mindshare from having a flagship phone.

They went with it at this point because they had the hardware/designs ready, not because it's the tenth anniversary.

I beg to differ with regard to "they had the hardware/designs ready" if 10th aniversary was 2016 IMO "X" would not have launched.

I think The Steve Jobs Theatre, the new Gold Standard Mothership, and ten years since Steve First announced iPhone had a major play in the "must launch" "we really must", "We Have to".

Technology (lack of) and timing are at odds here, hence we have "X 2017".
cheers

 

[Baymowe335]

You do realize the phone is supposed to be in consumers hands in 22 days? They're supposed to manufacture 36M phones in 22 days and they haven't even perfected the TD camera and 3D facial recognition? Seems "clear" to me there will be compromises in the first round of phones.

I am intimately aware of the situation as I hold well into the 4 digits of AAPL shares and follow the news very closely. There are already phones being produced and have been for some time. How many is the question. Again, they can ramp production very quickly. Apple has shipped as many 233M phones in 1 year and has sold almost 80M phones in 1 quarter. Apple knows how to ramp production..

Do I Think the X is the most complex and perhaps most challenging phone to produce to date? Sure, but I have confidence Apple will work through the issues and start producing the amount the market demands. The market already understands the phone will be in very short supply for the rest of 2017. It's not breaking news is my point.

 

[69Mustang]

The "Romeo" module reportedly includes the dot projector that beams more than 30,000 invisible dots to create a precise depth map of your face, while the "Juliet" module includes the infrared camera that analyzes the pattern. Together, they help power new iPhone X features such as Face ID and Animoji.

1. Call Microsoft
2. Get Satya Nadella to sell all the Kinect inventory (they have plenty)
3. Call Samsung. Have them convert all Kinects to lightning.
4. Ship Kinect as separate accessory ($199) for Face ID
5. Profit

You're welcome.

 

[kajoob]

Does anyone remember when Apple didn't ship a product unless it was ready?

The white iPhone 4

 

[Fozziebear71]

The first purchasers of this phone will be Apple's guinea pigs. I can't believe that there won't be many problems, hardware wise, with the first batch of these phones. I'll wait.

 

[shplock]

You do realize the phone is supposed to be in consumers hands in 22 days? They're supposed to manufacture 36M phones in 22 days and they haven't even perfected the TD camera and 3D facial recognition? Seems "clear" to me there will be compromises in the first round of phones.

Yes but all we have at the moment is rumours from so called analysts. These analysts, even Kuo, are not as good as they think so.
I would think that even Apple would have not said orders start officially on the 3rd November unless they knew for certain they could at leats ship enough units. So more than a million, in other words.
I think that there will be shortages but not due to reasons for struggling with making them.
WE have these issues every year with iPhone. Each year we have websites and analysts stating that this year is different with respect to supply of iPhones in the making of them. Each year turns out to be falsehood.

 

[deany]

Only if you don’t like the notch. Which is your opinion.

It’s better to release a fully functional, revolutionary device with a notch.

See? An opinion makes a statement wonderful.

Not just 'Notch' substandard (by Tim's standard) Supply v Demand.

 

[Wags]

Counterpoint: New Coke

Related: can iPhone X officially be the New Coke of Apple? I guess that would make iPhone 8, Coke Classic?
If not iPhone X, then at least faceID—New TouchID! Now with a crisper, more refreshing taste!

Kinda been down that Road already.
Hiring Pepsi president that eventually fires Steve Job and all but destroys company.

 

[Mabus51]

Doesn't matter. MacRumors members made it very clear as soon as the phone was announced that it's far too high priced to ever sell and no one will want to buy it. With no demand for it, supply shouldn't be an issue.

This statement always cracks me up. Considering the Plus model sells for $950. Which the media fails to mention in every article. Also let’s face it the first 8gb model iPhone was more expensive when it first released. No subsidy and factoring in inflation. $1,150 isn’t the price many will end up paying. To me the Watch is more expensive with its limited functionality and life span.

 

[sracer]

The first purchasers of this phone will be Apple's guinea pigs. I can't believe that there won't be many problems, hardware wise, with the first batch of these phones. I'll wait.

 

[kemal]

I think I'll try to get in on the pre-order. Just to see if I can get one.

 

[Mabus51]

You do realize the phone is supposed to be in consumers hands in 22 days? They're supposed to manufacture 36M phones in 22 days and they haven't even perfected the TD camera and 3D facial recognition? Seems "clear" to me there will be compromises in the first round of phones.

The problem is component shortages, not perfecting the functionality of the hardware. Not sure where you feel compromises will be had there.

 

[agsystems]

Does anyone remember when Apple didn't ship a product unless it was ready? Clearly the X is compromise after compromise.

IMO, I don't think Apple had a choice here - the media will have a field if there wasn't a re-designed bezel less model like all competitors have - I don't recall, did Apple specified the list of countries that will get this thing?
If they go with US, China and maybe 2-3 more countries I think there is good chance we can get it (US).

 

[michael31986]

IMO, I don't think has a choice here - the media will have a field if there wasn't a re-designed bezel less model like all competitors have - I don't recall, did Apple specified the list of countries that will get this thing?
If they go with US, China and maybe 2-3 more countries I think there is good chance we can get it (US).

Wasn't it worldwide release.

 

[ChrisCW11]

Apple just needs more courage...

 

[fourthtunz]

God am I glad I just went with the 8 Plus.

Yeah me too its a great phone!
I think the upgrades from 7 make it a worthy upgrade.
Still can't wait to see the X though!

 

[deanthedev]

The first purchasers of this phone will be Apple's guinea pigs. I can't believe that there won't be many problems, hardware wise, with the first batch of these phones. I'll wait.

People say that every year. I still buy new iPhones every year and haven’t been burned yet. Why should I believe the same doomsaying this year over years past?

 

[Mayo86]

Does anyone remember when Apple didn't ship a product unless it was ready? Clearly the X is compromise after compromise.

Compromise after compromise? What are you talking about? No, seriously, what on Earth are you on about? You don't like the product, fine, that's okay. But saying it is a compromise based on what? Based on your non-existent hands-on experience?

 

[Karma*Police]

Wow you’ve really been guzzling the Apple Kool-aid haven’t you?

Ha, if reason and common sense is now considered Apple Kool-aid, then yes!

Are you suggesting that it would've been harder for Apple to include physical bezels or that somehow the notch wasn't deliberate? If so, it sounds to me like you've been doing more than drinking Kool-Aid.