As Apple fans eagerly await the company's next-generation smartphone, reports suggest an initial supply shortage, as shipments are likely to be reduced due to manufacturing snags.
Taiwan-based Digitimes says poor yields of certain components of the rumoured iPhone 5S are expected to force Apple to reduce first-quarter shipments by as many as three million units.
The site, which features news on the supply side of semiconductor, electronics, computer and communications industries, yesterday cited sources as saying: "Volume production of fingerprint-recognition and LCD driver chips for the iPhone 5S should have started at the end of June or early in July, but issues related to yield rates will delay commercial production of the two chips to the end of July, therefore affecting the initial supply of the iPhone 5S."
The sources further say, for the fourth quarter of 2013, total shipments of iPhones (including the iPhone 4, 4S, 5 and the speculated 5S) are likely to reach 30 million units.
In April, when Apple announced financial results for its fiscal 2013 second quarter ended 30 March, iPhone shipments totalled 37.4 million.
iPhone expectations
While a reduced first shipment may not bode well for the tech giant, premature reviews of its upcoming iPhone suggest smartphone consumers may not be too fazed.
A survey of 2 007 British adults - revealing a broad sentiment that the new iPhone would generate poor sales - has been underpinned by local analysts. Apple's glory days, say analysts, may be over as other high-end smartphone makers like Samsung, HTC and Sony continue to innovate.
World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck notes that Apple's last two smartphone models have fallen short of the mark, despite perceived success. Relative to expectations, he says, both the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 were disappointing, showing only incremental improvements over their relative predecessors.
The latest handset, dubbed the iPhone 5S, Apple's seventh-generation iPhone, is rumoured for launch around September, or early October.
While Apple CEO Tim Cook continues to sidestep questions about the firm's new phone, industry buzz suggests it will feature a redesigned home button, indoor mapping, and an ultra-sensitive Sharp touch-screen - which could yield a sensitivity level of up to eight times higher.
Also, if Apple decides to go with an Xperia Z-like design, as rumoured, the screen would be substantially bigger. Rumours are that the new iPhone's touch-screen display may be up to 0.8 inches bigger than its predecessor's (2.03cm).
iPhone 5 drought
Amid early reports that the iPhone 5 had missed sales estimates, as well as suggestions that weak demand caused Apple to halve orders for components, January saw South Africans in search of the then new iPhone being left empty-handed and frustrated.
SA's four main mobile companies opened sales of iPhone 5 to the public around the middle of December, only to experience a widespread shortage less than a month down the line. At the time, iStore SA said the iPhone 5 had seen "unprecedented demand" in SA.
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