Sources in Apple's Supply Chain Dismiss Reports of iPhone 12 Launch Delay

[MacRumors]

Taiwanese makers of iPhone-bound printed circuit boards (PCBs) have denied reports that Apple has asked them to postpone volume production of Apple's 2020 iPhone by two months, according to a DigiTimes paywalled article.

Taiwan's PCB makers in the supply chain of 5G iPhones have denied reports claiming they have been asked to postpone volume production by two months in line with a likely launch delay for Apple's new-generation devices amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to industry sources.

The rebuff follows a report earlier this week from Japanese news site Nikkei that claimed Apple was preparing to delay the launch of its 2020 iPhone lineup "by a few months" over fears of how well iPhones would sell in the current situation.

Nikkei's report suggested supply chain sources also foresaw "practical hurdles" that could push back the launch date, which was scheduled for September, and that the engineering development of the 2020 iPhone lineup had been affected by travel restrictions to the United States, China, and elsewhere.

In a separate DigiTimes report filed today, iPhone supplier Pegatron's CEO SJ Liao also cited travel restrictions as a factor impacting the supply chain which manufacturers were working to overcome, although he stopped short of referring to Apple by name:

Commenting on whether the supply of its US-based client's 5G smartphones has been disrupted, Liao noted that the client at the moment is having trouble visiting the factories to make direct supervision of manufacturing and as a result, the supply chain will need to have the new smartphones built without the client's supervision.

However, Pegatron will keep communicating with the client to resolve any concerns it has. As for the market rumor that the client's 5G smartphone development has also been seriously delayed because of the pandemic, Liao noted that both the client and supply chain players at the moment are mainly looking to shorten the front-end processing work for the handsets.

A recent report from Bloomberg suggested that the iPhone 12 models are still on course for a fall launch despite disruptions to Apple's supply chain, and Foxconn this week said that it now has enough workers to meet "seasonal demand."

Rumors point to four new ?iPhone? models for 2020, which will be available at various price points. All models are expected to have 5G capabilities and A14 chips, and higher-end models are expected to be equipped with new 3D camera systems like the LiDAR Scanner in new iPad Pro models.

Article Link: Sources in Apple's Supply Chain Dismiss Reports of iPhone 12 Launch Delay

 

[max2]

Well of course they would!

 

[Steve121178]

Makes sense to delay it. No one needs a new gadget. If it's delayed then fine.

 

[PlayUltimate]

Makes sense to delay it. No one needs a new gadget. If it's delayed then fine.

Disagree. Typically, announce in mid Sept with a release 1-2 weeks later. If they delay 2 months, that puts them in late Nov release; IMO, almost too late for Christmas sales.
And, regardless of if people "need" it, people will still buy it.

 

[PickUrPoison]

So Nikkei is full of crap again, as usual? Not surprising at all.

 

[Dwalls90]

Disagree. Typically, announce in mid Sept with a release 1-2 weeks later. If they delay 2 months, that puts them in late Nov release; IMO, almost too late for Christmas sales.
And, regardless of if people "need" it, people will still buy it.

I think their point is that the world is fighting a virus that could kill millions of people, and perhaps a smartphone or profits shouldn’t take priority over global health concerns.

 

[koil]

Makes sense to delay it. No one needs a new gadget. If it's delayed then fine.

Some of us make plans to replace devices at certain intervals. I am still using my iPhone X, and I was planning to skip the iPhone 12 as well before the checkm8 bootloader exploit for X and below was announced, now I would like to upgrade to a secure device and I don't really see the 11 Pro as an upgrade to my X, so I am planning to get the 5.4" 12 when it is released. A delay would suck, as the battery in my X is starting to be an issue now.

 

[Steve121178]

Some of us make plans to replace devices at certain intervals. I am still using my iPhone X, and I was planning to skip the iPhone 12 as well before the checkm8 bootloader exploit for X and below was announced, now I would like to upgrade to a secure device and I don't really see the 11 Pro as an upgrade to my X, so I am planning to get the 5.4" 12 when it is released. A delay would suck, as the battery in my X is starting to be an issue now.

Yeah it would suck, but it's not important. If you have to wait a couple more months, then I'm sure you can cope.
[automerge]1585309902[/automerge]

Disagree. Typically, announce in mid Sept with a release 1-2 weeks later. If they delay 2 months, that puts them in late Nov release; IMO, almost too late for Christmas sales.
And, regardless of if people "need" it, people will still buy it.

If we have to wait another 2 months or more, then so what? We'll just buy in November instead. Not a big deal.

 

[koil]

Yeah it would suck, but it's not important. If you have to wait a couple more months, then I'm sure you can cope.

Of course I can, I just hope I won't have to.

 

[motm95]

I just hope they are not rushing workers back to the factory too early simply to build a new iPhone.

 

[dantracht]

In other words, no one knows for sure. Strange times indeed.

My two cents; if it's delayed, which I tend to believe, it'll be delayed a la X or XR: October/November.

I just hope we are all OK by then.

Stay safe everyone.

 

[I7guy]

I think their point is that the world is fighting a virus that could kill millions of people, and perhaps a smartphone or profits shouldn’t take priority over global health concerns.

What does one have to do with another? The world isn't stopping, it's adapting...however difficult it is.

 

[PlayUltimate]

If the economy is still shutdown in September, this will be moot.

Point is, Apple engineers are still working. Apple manufacturers are still making product. Apple's On-line store is still selling devices. If Apple needs to delay, they will. Otherwise, why does it matter if they do not delay?

 

[Act3]

I just hope they are not rushing workers back to the factory too early simply to build a new iPhone.

sounds like they are, read that foxconn is providing virus tests and chest xrays

 

[newyorksole]

What does one have to do with another? The world isn't stopping, it's adapting...however difficult it is.

Yeah as long as Apple isn’t having people risk their health/safety to launch these new iPhones then there’s absolutely nothing wrong with trying to get everything back on schedule.

For some odd reason people think you can’t care about a global pandemic while also wanting to get things back to normal.

 

[BarrettF77]

Hahahaha! Believing what the Chinese suppliers are telling us.... Fool us once? Keep drinking the Kooliad folks.

The new iPad Pro was discovered to have essentially the same guts minus a camera and wifi change showing this is a test bed only for the new iPhone 12 coming later. Apple is using you as a paying beta tester and these comments about no delays are geared towards shareholders. People are so gullible

 

[now i see it]

Delayed, not delayed. 120 hz refresh, no 120hz refresh. Cheaper, not cheaper. 5G, no 5G

 

[I7guy]

Hahahaha! Believing what the Chinese suppliers are telling us.... Fool us once? Keep drinking the Kooliad folks.

The new iPad Pro was discovered to have essentially the same guts minus a camera and wifi change showing this is a test bed only for the new iPhone 12 coming later. Apple is using you as a paying beta tester and these comments about no delays are geared towards shareholders. People are so gullible

And? This is a rumors site. It’s true there are some who believe believe rumor = fact, but that’s been happening here for years. The new iPad is not a test bed for the iPhone 12. It’s a technology preview.

 

[Dwalls90]

What does one have to do with another? The world isn't stopping, it's adapting...however difficult it is.

The economy needs to and has grinded to a halt for the sake of health. There isn't a single scientist or data point that suggests resuming business as usual is helpful for health reasons. I agree the world will innovate and adapt during this challenge, but it can't forgo the recommendations provided by experts in the health field.

Apple engineers in Cupertino aren't able to fly to China (both countries are currently restricting travel) to meet with the folks that need to set up factories for the mass production that is slated to start in a matter of weeks. Not to mention, businesses in China were closed for weeks. Some areas are still locked down, though apparently may resume business as normal soon. Based on this, it's understandable that we're likely not looking at a normal release schedule for the iPhone this year. Or maybe some variant of the iPhone will launch, but supply may be an issue, or features will be delayed to next year.

 

[I7guy]

The economy needs to and has grinded to a halt for the sake of health. There isn't a single scientist or data point that suggests resuming business as usual is helpful for health reasons. I agree the world will innovate and adapt during this challenge, but it can't forgo the recommendations provided by experts in the health field.

Apple engineers in Cupertino aren't able to fly to China (both countries are currently restricting travel) to meet with the folks that need to set up factories for the mass production that is slated to start in a matter of weeks. Not to mention, businesses in China were closed for weeks. Some areas are still locked down, though apparently may resume business as normal soon. Based on this, it's understandable that we're likely not looking at a normal release schedule for the iPhone this year. Or maybe some variant of the iPhone will launch, but supply may be an issue, or features will be delayed to next year.

The economy is still moving and should be, where people can be safe. Someone mentioned in a previous post, somewhere, intel fab plants are almost at full capacity. The hyperbole of "profits over people" is just that. It will be what it will be, but it's my feeling a lot of what needed to be done for iphone "12" has is already locked down. Delayed or not, we will see.

 

[Justanotherfanboy]

I think their point is that the world is fighting a virus that could kill millions of people, and perhaps a smartphone or profits shouldn’t take priority over global health concerns.

Millions? Lol.
Ummm... ok.
The 3,000 deaths in China & 1,100 in the US made you extrapolate a final number in the millions??
Maybe you should calm tf down, take a small break from building your fallout shelter, & come back down to earth.

Yes.... if MILLIONS of people are dying nobody will care about smartphones.
Thank heavens that is some absurd bs!

 

[macfan90]

I hope they go back to the box looked of the iPhone 4 design, best design out of all the iPhones, body style wise. Combine with a notch, or even better a punch hole design.

But the camera bump is super annoying.

 

[Abazigal]

Makes sense to delay it. No one needs a new gadget. If it's delayed then fine.

Any delay would be due to the Covid-19 situation inhibiting Apple’s ability to travel to China to finalise the design and production process of the iphone. They are not going to delay the sale of the new iphone just because they think a possible recession might impede people’s ability to buy or afford one.

Society doesn’t stop, even during a pandemic. Life goes on, as will the release of the next iPhone.

 

[Justanotherfanboy]

Hahahaha! Believing what the Chinese suppliers are telling us.... Fool us once? Keep drinking the Kooliad folks.

The new iPad Pro was discovered to have essentially the same guts minus a camera and wifi change showing this is a test bed only for the new iPhone 12 coming later. Apple is using you as a paying beta tester and these comments about no delays are geared towards shareholders. People are so gullible

Well, at least we can agree on your final statement!
Sadly (for you), it seems self-referential...

First off... you think China has major concerns with propping up American stocks & making sure they succeed??
Dunno who told you that- but you’d have to be hyper gullible to believe such an obviously false, silly & ridiculous notion.
Secondly... w/ regards to stock manipulation- it’s typically done in a manner where one decries the value of a stock publicly, with false information, so they can scoop it up for a deal.
It’s VERY common for a doom/gloom story to be exposed a day or two later.
By then, the gullible people that believed it have already sold, the people that manipulated the stock have captured their profits, and that’s typically it.
You seem to be in the rare position of being NEXT LEVEL gullible... so you were tricked by the manipulation story, and doubled down on your belief, in light of evidence to the contrary surfacing a few days later, lol.

Ouch.
That’s the problem with making blanket insults. They can come back to bite you.
I’m reminded of the old adage about how pointing at other people leaves you with four fingers pointing back at yourself...

 

[gavroche]

The economy needs to and has grinded to a halt for the sake of health. There isn't a single scientist or data point that suggests resuming business as usual is helpful for health reasons. I agree the world will innovate and adapt during this challenge, but it can't forgo the recommendations provided by experts in the health field.

We will eventually reach a point where life must go on. Society cannot survive in lock down mode for pro-longed period. Not and have it be considered a life as we know it. It’s no different than the regular flu. An estimated 30,000-60,000 people die every single year from the common flu... yet we as a society do not try to lock down to prevent it. I’m sure those scientists you are referring to would say that we could save a lot of those lives if we did lock down. But society already decided a long time ago that to attempt to do so would be futile, and the harm from doing so outweighs the benefit. It’s not all so cut and dry like you seem to think it is.