Tight iPhone 5 Supplies Linked to In-Cell Display Technology

[MacRumors]

While Apple set a company record by selling over five million units of the iPhone 5 during the device's launch weekend, it clearly could have sold even more if supplies had been available. Pre-orders for the iPhone 5 sold through the company's launch day stocks in just about an hour, and shipping estimates for new orders have been sitting at 3-4 weeks since soon after pre-orders began.

Bloomberg reports that Apple's tight supplies at launch are a result of the new in-cell technology being used for the iPhone 5's display. The technology integrates the touch sensors directly into the display rather than adding them as a separate layer, allowing for thinner displays.

Apple used the technology in the first major iPhone overhaul since 2010 to make the device more svelte, an attribute that helped lure a record 5 million buyers in three days. Yet producing in-cell screens is also more painstaking than earlier screen types, contributing to bottlenecks.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had previously noted that shifting to in-cell technology would simplify and shorten the display manufacturing process, but low yields of the new implementation have challenged Apple's supply chain partners' efforts to meet demand. Although LG and Japan Display were able to ramp up production, Sharp experienced the most significant difficulties and only began mass shipments of the display into the supply chain two weeks ago.

Article Link: Tight iPhone 5 Supplies Linked to In-Cell Display Technology

 

[iZac]

That and keeping back supply for the numerous more countries it hits in this week. This fast roll out is fantastic for the international community though.

 

[CrAkD]

Tight supplies? Everytime I watch the news they tell me the iPhone 5 was a disappointment why would supplies be tight?

 

[andalusia]

Supplies are always tight at product launches. Apple never learn!

 

[M1chbeck]

Ming-Chi Kuo's track record is not great, though.
I remember his "thight launch schedule" which was wrong on so many levels.

 

[KdParker]

hope this clears up soon

I have a second line eligible for upgrade coming in October. I sure hope delivery days get back to normal by then.

 

[swarmster]

But...but...

All they did was make the screen a little taller! Now you're telling me its the highest quality smartphone screen ever and implements innovative, cutting edge technologies? And that's just the changes they made to the display?

Sorry, but I prefer willful ignorance.

 

[gregwyattjr]

But damn do those screens look good.

 

[Nicky G]

The new display is definitely a major improvement, both in terms if visual quality, thinness, and I think most importantly, the overall "feeling" you get interacting by touch with objects that really do appear to be right on the surface layer of the glass. Instead of appearing even slightly under the surface of the glass, it really does seem like things are just right there at your fingertips. It's huge, and I can't wait for this display technology to make it to the iPad.

 

[wkadamsjr]

What tight supplies? I got mine day one.

 

[iSamurai]

Supplies are always tight at product launches. Apple never learn!

But then once you start ramping up the production a few months prior to the launch, parts leak and people would be like "oh that's a hideous prototype". lol

 

[wkadamsjr]

The new display is definitely a major improvement, both in terms if visual quality, thinness, and I think most importantly, the overall "feeling" you get interacting by touch with objects that really do appear to be right on the surface layer of the glass. Instead of appearing even slightly under the surface of the glass, it really does seem like things are just right there at your fingertips. It's huge, and I can't wait for this display technology to make it to the iPad.

Really? The difference is less than a millimeter, if I'm not mistaken. How can your eye even tell the difference? I think it's all in your head.

 

[striker33]

Expect even tighter supplies with all the damaged iPhones that will be returned.

 

[Nightarchaon]

this would be the "foxconn worker battery farm" 'cell' or prison cell ?

 

[striker33]

Really? The difference is less than a millimeter, if I'm not mistaken. How can your eye even tell the difference? I think it's all in your head.

I could tell the difference as well.

It also seems like the tech has moved on a fair bit in the last 2 years, as the latency seems to be significantly reduced, and everything seems a lot quicker in response to touch input. Wether thats a side effect of the new in-cell tech, I'm not qualified to say.

 

[rfred02]

Finally get mine this AM, but I'm sorry for everyone that is still refreshing their CC website and email hoping that their card is charged and their tracking numbers are sent... Hopefully the international roll-out won't hurt still pending orders in the US.

 

[mono1980]

Supplies are always tight at product launches. Apple never learn!

Yes, because it's so easy to coordinate supplies for millions and millions of devices that are needed at the same time. Apple is the best in the world at this.

 

[knemonic]

Worth it.

 

[adildacoolset]

I can imagine rim cook regularly calling sharp on his cellphone:
"When are you mass producing it? But the launch is only a few weeks away! Yes, but what can you do? Uh-huh. Make sure it's mass produced QUICKLY!"
He must have done this call like every day until finally:
"WTF? You only got mass production now? That's only two weeks before the launch!"

 

[Geckotek]

Supplies are always tight at product launches. Apple never learn!

I hope that I'm missing some sarcasm.

 

[daneoni]

No wonder a lot of the new phones have a warmer tone to them. Damn LG and their warm calibration!

 

[Kissaragi]

I hope that I'm missing some sarcasm.

unfortunately for him there probably is no sarcasm there..

The new display is fantastic, its noticeably better than my iphone 4.

 

[iSee]

Is five million devices ready for launch a tight supply?

Bloomberg reports that Apple's tight supplies at launch are a result of ...

... not in-cell displays but overwhelming demand.

 

[jonnysods]

That's a shame. Still waiting for mine to turn up....

 

[dannynjoni]

I really do love the new display. I haven't heard much about it and I've been wondering why. IMO it's been underplayed. I don't want to put it down. It's just really nice to experience - and I have an iPad 3! I too can tell the difference of having less glass on the surface. Things just "feel" better. The colors are beautiful too, and the clarity/contrast are wonderful! I didn't expect the new iPhone to make me already want to upgrade my iPad, but I think it will be a must for me now LOL!