Rival Mobile Makers Reduce Chip Orders in Anticipation of 'iPhone 8' Debut

[MacRumors]

Mobile chip suppliers in Apple's supply chain are reportedly seeing a drop in orders from rival handset makers as other companies adopt a "wait-and-see" approach in anticipation of what the "iPhone 8" might bring, according to a new report on Monday (via DigiTimes).

While chip makers saw Apple's orders pick up last month, demand from non-Apple customers has been slow, according to sources at backend houses, which don't expect orders to rise substantially until the fourth quarter.

The A10 chip, which powers Apple's current iPhone line-up​

Fabless firms including MediaTek and HiSilicon continue to slow down their pace of orders, said the sources, which warned of disappointing handset-chip shipments from the non-Apple camp in the third quarter.

Chip orders from rivals were reportedly expected to have picked up in the beginning of April and grown through August, but orders are said to have been delayed as companies await Apple's redesigned "iPhone 8", which many rivals believe will come with revolutionary features.

Meanwhile, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has seen non-Apple customers express more interest in the firm's 12-nanometer node manufacturing process, which is said to be a smaller, enhanced version of its 16nm process, rather than its 10nm process, which Apple is relying on for the A11 chips in its iterative "iPhone 7s" and "iPhone 7s Plus" updates, along with the premium-tier OLED iPhone.

10nm is supposed to yield chips that are more power efficient and offer faster end user experiences. Apple's iPhone sales are expected to sustain demand for TSMC's 10nm mobile chips through the first quarter of 2018, the sources added. Meanwhile, the 12nm node process should serve as a more modest enhancement to fill the competition gap before more suppliers are capable of building faster 10nm chips.

Apple has a major iPhone redesign in the works this year, with a glass body and edge-to-edge OLED display, wireless charging, enhanced cameras with 3D sensing technology, and new authentication features including facial recognition. The OLED iPhone is expected to launch in the fall alongside upgraded (but standard) 4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhones.

Article Link: Rival Mobile Makers Reduce Chip Orders in Anticipation of 'iPhone 8' Debut

 

[farewelwilliams]

digitimes rumor again? ugh. super false.

 

[Michael Scrip]

digitimes rumor again? ugh. super false.

While I share your distaste for DigiTimes and rumors... this sounds more like a report than a rumor.

According to the article... Apple's competitors aren't ordering as many chips as they usually do this time of year.

So are you suggesting that they are ordering more chips? That's the only way your claim of "super false" would be accurate.

 

[Zirel]

Mobile chip suppliers in Apple's supply chain are reportedly seeing a drop in orders from rival handset makers as other companies adopt a "wait-and-see" approach in anticipation of what the "iPhone 8" might bring, according to a new report on Monday (via DigiTimes).

As usual...

Android brands copying the exterior, but not the interior...

 

[Dave245]

They are waiting to see what the iPhone 8/Pro brings because it's likely to be the mother of all upgrades! If Apple are implementing facial recognition features with a 3D camera and AR features they will probably want to wait and see what Apple have before doing something similar themselves.

People on this forum will likely dissagree but Apple introduced a revolutionary phone back in 2007, the iPhone has millions upon millions of buyers per year so yea of course the competition will want to see what Apple have up their sleeve. But also with it being the 10th anniversary since the iPhone, Apple are working on something great (iPhone 8/Pro).

 

[lincolntran]

This is a game changer again!

Not because of out of this world hardware but because of the potentials that ARKit will bring. This is the beginning of next gen apps.

The hardware will also be the best out there of course.

 

[CWallace]

Wonder how the media pundits will be spinning this one. They've been saying all year that the iPhone 8 will be a dud (as they say every year for each new iPhone) and how the competition will see a huge spike in sales because of it.

 

[Dave245]

Wonder how the media pundits will be spinning this one. They've been saying all year that the iPhone 8 will be a dud (as they say every year for each new iPhone) and how the competition will see a huge spike in sales because of it.

They will probably complain about the price! Even tho the 7s and 7s Plus will be announced alongside it.

 

[djcerla]

"wait-and-see"

more like "wait and start the photocopiers"

 

[H2SO4]

As usual...

Android brands copying the exterior, but not the interior...

Yeah cos it's really easy to copy the interior when you've not seen it.

 

[69Mustang]

Rivals? Okay, in China that's probably accurate... and only in China... and only with Chinese brands. But the implication in this MR article is silly. Traditionally, we view Apple's rivals as companies like Samsung, LG, Motorola, HTC, Google, etc. None of those companies are delaying their new products waiting on Apple to debut the iPhone 8 (or whatever it will be called).

Who might be delaying? Chinese companies that quick copy Apple's designs. It actually makes sense for them to hold off until Apple's debut. They can't copy what they can't see. As for Apple's traditional rivals, facts don't support the implication that they're delaying.

 

[Zirel]

Yeah cos it's really easy to copy the interior when you've not seen it.

They are generations behind.

 

[Andres Cantu]

Wait-and-see just confirms that they hold back their best, just like Apple does all the time.

 

[apolloa]

digitimes rumor again? ugh. super false.

Yeap, pretty much a click bait article..

 

[farewelwilliams]

While I share your distaste for DigiTimes and rumors... this sounds more like a report than a rumor.

According to the article... Apple's competitors aren't ordering as many chips as they usually do this time of year.

So are you suggesting that they are ordering more chips? That's the only way your claim of "super false" would be accurate.

i'm suggesting they aren't cutting back orders because of the iPhone 8.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Rivals? Okay, in China that's probably accurate... and only in China... and only with Chinese brands. But the implication in this MR article is silly. Traditionally, we view Apple's rivals as companies like Samsung, LG, Motorola, HTC, Google, etc. None of those companies are delaying their new products waiting on Apple to debut the iPhone 8 (or whatever it will be called).

Who might be delaying? Chinese companies that quick copy Apple's designs. It actually makes sense for them to hold off until Apple's debut. They can't copy what they can't see. As for Apple's traditional rivals, facts don't support the implication that they're delaying.

Perhaps this is a paid ad.

 

[Michael Scrip]

i'm suggesting they aren't cutting back orders because of the iPhone 8.

Ah... I see.

You're contesting the reason they are cutting back orders... not the actual act of cutting back orders.

According the the article... Apple's orders starting growing in June.

However... orders from the non-Apple camp should have picked up in April and grown through August.

But they're actually slow this year.

I'd love to hear some other theories... if Apple's upcoming iPhone 8 isn't the blame.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Ah... I see.

You're contesting the reason they are cutting back orders... not the actual act of cutting back orders.

According the the article... Apple's orders starting growing in June.

However... orders from the non-Apple camp should have picked up in April and grown through August.

But they're actually slow this year.

I'd love to hear some other theories... if Apple's upcoming iPhone 8 isn't the blame.

who knows. last year the smartphone market shrunk in one of the quarters.

 

[ElQben]

All rumors point to this design being the $1,100+ iPhone "Pro", but they could call it anything really. The only thing that's clear is that they ARE going to be defining a new tier of iPhone, that will sell above AND alongside the numbered ones. There are not going to be two numbered iPhones. That makes no marketing sense.