Apple Increasing iPhone Production with iPhone 5 Ramp-Up
Digitimes offers some updated estimates for iPhone production for the second half of 2011. According to them, Apple has increased the orders for their iPhone line by about 12-13% from 50 million units to 56 million units. The iPhone 5 in particular will reportedly account for 25.5-26 million units in the second half of 2011.
More specifically, iPhone 5 orders for the 3rd quarter (July, Aug, Sept) have been decreased from 7 million units to 5.5-6 million units while the 4th quarter (Oct, Nov, Dec) orders have been raised from 14 million units to more then 20 million units. Meanwhile, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 unit shipments will decline correspondingly from over 20 million in the 3rd quarter to 8 million in the 4th quarter.
As always, it's very hard to verify these projection numbers from Digitimes. They have previously offered up some unbelievable MacBook Air numbers. The iPhone numbers are likely closer to reality, as Apple's iPhone sales have been accelerating. Apple sold 20.34 million iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 units during their 3rd fiscal quarter (Apr, May, June). Note that Apple's financial results follow a fiscal yearly quarter system while Digitimes frequently refers to calendar quarters.
Based on these numbers, Apple's production for calendar Q3 and Q4 of all iPhones will be roughly 25.5 million and 28 million units, respectively. Looking at the history sales graph, these times of the year do represent major jumps in sales for Apple.
Some questions arise though, if these are accurate. 8 million units of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS in the 4th quarter must account for some ongoing sales of those units, since the iPhone 5 is believed to be launching in October. Continuing production and sales of the older models could have to do with a reduced pricing model or simply a slow worldwide roll out. Apple frequently launches their new devices in the U.S. first with other countries to follow.
Popular Stories
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle.
Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines.
According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option.
Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator.
The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Apple's restrained artificial intelligence strategy may pay off in 2026 amid the arrival of a revamped Siri and concerns around the AI market "bubble" bursting, The Information argues.
The speculative report notes that Apple has taken a restrained approach with AI innovations compared with peers such as OpenAI, Google, and Meta, which are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in data...
The Apple Fitness+ Instagram account today teased that the service has "big plans" for 2026. In a video, several Apple Fitness+ trainers are shown holding up newspapers with headlines related to Apple Fitness+.
What's Apple Fitness+ Planning for the New Year?
Something Big is Coming to Apple Fitness+
The Countdown Begins. Apple Fitness+ 2026 is Almost Here
2026 Plans Still Under ...
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro.
Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...
Apple today added the final 13-inch MacBook Air powered by Intel processors, the Apple Watch Series 5, and additional products to its vintage products list. The iPhone 11 Pro was also added to the list after the iPhone 11 Pro Max was added back in September.
The full list of products added to Apple's vintage and obsolete list today:
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)
iPhone 8 Plus 128GB ...
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce.
In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing."
TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
