Japan Display CEO Mitsuru Homma dropped some clues regarding Apple's upcoming iPhone release on Thursday, saying his company's biggest client, widely thought to be Apple, is increasing orders despite a soft Chinese market.
Homma in an interview with Reuters outlined Apple's seemingly insatiable demand for iPhone screens, suggesting the company expects high levels of consumer interest when it announces this year's handset refresh. He added that economic headwinds in China don't appear to be a concern for Apple.
"They're coming to us with more orders, saying 'give us more, give us more.' They keep increasing," Homma said.
The executive's comments come after Apple CEO Tim Cook allayed fears over a wavering Chinese market in a rare email to CNBC's Jim Cramer. Citing daily updates on Apple's Chinese business, Cook said the company experienced "strong growth" through July and August.
"Growth in iPhone activations has actually accelerated over the past few weeks, and we have had the best performance for the App Store in China during the last 2 weeks," Cook said.
With a growing middle class and constantly expanding LTE network infrastructure, China is a key growth market for Apple. As such, the company has ramped up efforts to sell its products in the region. For example, Apple is looking to triple the number of brick-and-mortar Apple Stores in China by mid-2016.
Apple is widely expected to announce a next-generation iPhone lineup at a special event on Sept. 9, which could also see the debut of a new Apple TV.
10 Comments
"Widely thought to be Apple?" Why can't some reporter just dig up this information?
[quote name="am8449" url="/t/188003/apple-supplier-japan-display-alludes-to-increased-iphone-orders-ahead-of-sept-9-event#post_2770200"]"Widely thought to be Apple?" Why can't some reporter just dig up this information?[/quote] Plausible deniability.
I just bought a refurbished iPhone 6 64GB on ebay for $489 for my wife. I figured the equivalent new iPhone will be $750 tax ($802.50) for awhile and don't anticipate any killer features to justify spending $300 more. What do you all think? Good move? Wife is not obsessed with the tech unless there's a clear use case for her day to day life.
[quote name="schlack" url="/t/188003/apple-supplier-japan-display-alludes-to-increased-iphone-orders-ahead-of-sept-9-event#post_2770215"]I just bought a refurbished iPhone 6 64GB on ebay for $489 for my wife. I figured the equivalent new iPhone will be $750 tax ($802.50) for awhile and don't anticipate any killer features to justify spending $300 more. What do you all think? Good move? Wife is not obsessed with the tech unless there's a clear use case for her day to day life.[/quote]i wouldn't think it's a good move. By September 9, you may see new iPhone 6 price drop close to $550 at some places or a mint condition used one at $350 or so.
I have a feeling that Apple may beat 75 million unit sale last year with 6S series by small margin ...probably close to 80M. Then WS will jump in again with their fucking "future growth " bullshit to drag the stock price back down and the cycle of stock manipulation repeats.