Mikey Campbell
A trusted industry insider told AppleInsider on Thursday that they expect Apple still expects to launch the sixth-generation iPhone in September following a manufacturing ramp-up earlier in the month.
These views were similarly shared in a research note Friday by well-respected KGI Research analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said the next-generation handset is entering the production verification test (PVT) stage and that Apple's supply chain will be intact for the initial ramp, though availability of select components, like in-cell touch-panels made by Sharp and LG, may be tight due to low yield rates.
According to industry checks the two suppliers will be able to pump out a small number of panels and contribute to Japanese display maker JDI's already-growing stockpile, which will stand at over 10 million units before the end the third quarter. Overall, in-cell panel supply should reach between 14 to 18 million units in the third quarter, sufficient for the next-generation iPhone's rollout.
As for the smartphone's metal and glass case, up-chain suppliers suggest only two color ways will be available: black and white. Kuo went on to say the images of purportedly leaked assembled externals are "very likely authentic" and notes the metal top and bottom of the uni-body casing may feature a Gorilla Glass inlay for heat dissipation and cellular reception. The design has never been seen before and may negate the wireless connectivity issues Apple faced with the iPhone 4.
The supply of baseband chips expected to be used in the upcoming handset are not expected to be a problem for Apple as the next-gen iPhone will likely employ Qualcomm's MDM9615M silicon, an improved version of the chip used in the third-generation iPad. Because the MDM chip's die size is smaller than previous iterations, production yield is higher and most likely won't cause an issue for the mass-production of the upcoming iPhone.
According to the Kuo, Apple's fiscal guidance for its fourth fiscal quarter of 2012, the expected gold master release of iOS 6 in early September and lack of a supply shortage point to an early to mid-September launch for the next-gen handset. The timetable is in-line with recent rumors that Apple will hold an as-yet-unannounced special event on Sept. 12.
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49 Comments
The new iPhone doesn't seem worth the early upgrade, based on all the rumours and speculation, so I'll keep my 4S and avoid a potential 'shortage'.
Shortages or no, they may as well release whatever quantity they CAN make. It’s not as though people don’t know it’s coming. Demand is already being harmed by anticipation.
Even if mass quantity shipments can’t happen until November (or whenever) I don’t really see why it would be better to ship ZERO new iPhones in September-Octover than to ship only a limited number. Plus they can be taking back orders.
1) This new design looks absolutely brilliant in every way. 2) Haven't we heard about component shortages pretty much every year before a new release? I'm sure there are shortages but it could be because Apple has been busy buying up all the components to make yet another record release.
The insider goes on to say the images of purportedly leaked assembled externals are "very likely authentic"
Well it looks like what you see is what you get:
1) This new design looks absolutely brilliant in every way.
I wouldn't go that far, but I will say it's not bad. But it will need to have some "WOW" features either software or hardware to get people interested. Because the design alone is pretty standard
I must be hard to please because the design of this supposed new iPhone is the dullest thing I've seen for a generation upgrade (apart from 3 to 3S and 4 to 4S). Is this seriously all they can come up with? The front and sides look almost identical to 4 and 4S except for a change in bottom ports, oooh, how thrilling. The back is slightly different because of the materials used, wow, ground breaking. It's far from ugly but it barely looks like it's evolved from a design aspect. I'm still buying it because I need to upgrade but this is far from brilliant. I can only pray Apple is fooling us all with the real thing secretly hidden and that the new product looks nothing like this but I fear that I will not be pleasantly surprised. Apple has a lot at stake with this next phone, they better deliver because competition is hot on their ass more than ever!!