William Gallagher
A new research forecast estimates that Apple will sell between 63 million and 68 million "iPhone 12" units before the end of the year, and the forecast's researchers believe there will be a dark blue model.
Following previous reports of "iPhone 12" orders being cut in 2020 because of late shipping, a new forecast predicts that Apple will sell between 63 million and 68 million phones. Given that Apple doesn't report sales volumes, similar numbers from the supply chain for the iPhone 11, suggest that this is five million units less year-over-year.
The research is from Digitimes, which says that Apple's figures will be down because of up to a 6 week delay in the release of the "iPhone 12." Apple has already confirmed that the launch will be a few weeks behind schedule because of coronavirus-induced production issues.
However, Digitimes expects that reduced sales may not just be made up with increased ones in early 2021. It says that extra unemployment benefits from the US government may affect purchasing of iPhones.
Plus it cautions that if WeChat is banned from the Chinese App Store, iPhone shipments in total will fall almost 10%.
Digitimes has a poor record for predicting Apple's products, however it has a much stronger track record for data involving sources within the supply chain. Alongside the shipment forecast figures, Digitimes is reporting that Apple will introduce a dark blue color to the "iPhone 12" range for the first time.
This backs up a rumor from January 2020 which said a dark blue version may be available. That prior report claimed that the color would be limited to the higher-end "iPhone 12" models. Rumors about a dark blue color coming to the iPhone have circulated since the iPhone 7.
Apple has previously introduced new colors and limited them to certain models. The most prominent of these was Midnight Green on the iPhone 11 Pro. Apple credited Japan's Seiko Advance for the ability to add that particular color.
The "iPhone 12" launch is may still be held in September, even if actual shipping of the models may be some weeks later than usual. However, leakers have given various claims, seeing it happening on either September 8 or October 12.
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Wesley Hilliard
AppleInsider Staff
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
48 Comments
How many people here have 5G right now?
iPhone 12 5.4” in dark blue iPhone color is mine!![]()
:)
People like gold color like gray/black and white.
How are Android 5G smartphones selling? Around this time last year there was much angst written by AppleInsider that iPhone 11 would not have 5G, Apple would be one or more years behind Android smartphones, Apple would have to play catch up, Apple could lose customers to Android who want 5G. A year later there is barely any mention of Android 5G much less 5G.
Here in the UK unless you live in or near a major city there is no 5G, so for most of us 5G is irrelevant.