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Early iPhone 5S Shipments May Be Constrained Due to Poor Fingerprint Sensor Yields

Tuesday July 16, 2013 4:47 am PDT by Husain Sumra
In what has become something of a tradition ahead of Apple's product launches, Digitimes is reporting that the iPhone 5S may see constrained supplies at launch due to poor yields of certain components. In this case, the issues are said to be related to chips supporting fingerprint recognition and the device's LCD, according to industry sources.
The fingerprint recognition chip is designed by AuthenTec, of which Apple acquired for US$356 million in July 2012. Issues related to the original design of the chip reportedly caused the lower yield rates, claimed the sources, adding that Apple outsources the production of the fingerprint recognition chips to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and the packaging of the chips to Xintec.
The report also claims that production for the new device was supposed to start in late June or early July, but because of yield problems the ramp-up will be delayed until late July. According to Digitimes' sources, this will result in Apple delaying shipments of three million iPhone 5S into the fourth quarter. Just yesterday, Jefferies analyst Peter Misek had indicated that "small batch production" of the iPhone 5S had begun last month, with mass production ramping up later this month.

In early April, reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that production issues would likely "delay" iPhone 5S into September and that Apple's third quarter would see smaller shipment growth than previously expected.

authentec_cross_section
TruePrint fingerprint sensing technology from AuthenTec

Reuters followed up with its own report in late April, mirroring Kuo's report claiming that production issues would likely result in delay's for Apple's newest flagship device.

However, at Apple's Q1 2013 earnings call, CEO Tim Cook warned that predicting future Apple business based on certain supply chain data was "impossible" because the company has multiple sources for components to account for varying yields and inconsistent supplier performance.

Apple's iPhone 5S is expected to launch sometime in the fall.

Tag: digitimes.com
[ 121 comments ]


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Woyzeck
77 months ago
So we waited more than 8 months for the new iMac, just because they were unable to produce the screen that no one was waiting for and now we have to wait for the new iPhone because of a sensor that no one needs. Great.

And in the meantime Samsung and the other Android phone manufacturers roll over the market. Maybe that's not the most promising strategy to overcome a loss in market share.
Rating: 14 Votes
Avatar
newdeal
77 months ago
Apple needs to get a serious strangle hold on manufacturers because every single launch is plagued by these issues
Rating: 10 Votes
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GoCubsGo
77 months ago
I just don't think I follow how anyone could possibly panic over delays in shipments of a product that hasn't been announced with a feature that no one really knows will be included. Who says fingerprint scanning will come on the iPhone 5S? We know there will be a 5S and it will likely be on schedule with all other releases, but doesn't anyone think the fingerprint scanner would be held back for the iPhone 6? That is historically a release that carries even more updates, right?

I always say the "S" of the phones were nothing more than slight improvements to their predecessor. I'm a fan of my 4S, and I'll likely be a fan of the 5S as well, but I'm not sure the fingerprint technology will be included in the 5S.
Rating: 9 Votes
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Lucamegh
77 months ago
My guesses:

* fingerprint lockscreen unlock;
* fingerprint passwords (that's why they announced iCloud Keychain ;));
* fingerprint Apple ID authentication.


I'd personally wait an extra month to get this new sensor. There are too many passwords to remember nowadays.
Rating: 9 Votes
Avatar
Plutonius
77 months ago

So we waited more than 8 months for the new iMac, just because they were unable to produce the screen that no one was waiting for and now we have to wait for the new iPhone because of a sensor that no one needs. Great.

And in the meantime Samsung and the other Android phone manufacturers roll over the market. Maybe that's not the most promising strategy to overcome a loss in market share.


Just more analyst guesses. You might be better to hold back your angst until Apple actually announces a product :D.
Rating: 6 Votes
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fullauto
77 months ago
Liking the print recognition..

Not liking the 5 form factor..

The next 18 months can't come soon enough..
Rating: 5 Votes
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Rogifan
77 months ago

Apple needs to get a serious strangle hold on manufacturers because every single launch is plagued by these issues


How do we know there is even an issue? This is coming from DigiTimes after all. Not like they have a great track record in reporting anything.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Jsameds
77 months ago
It'll be interesting to see how easily the scanner can be fooled. I remember a mythbusters episode where they fooled the most expensive fingerprint scanner in the world with a photocopy of the finger!
Rating: 4 Votes
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louiek
77 months ago

Not convinced by the fingerprint sensor business. I mean, is tapping four numbers that hard?


I've got keepassx on my mac. I just have to click on any particular login/xterm window with a unique title, hit a hotkey, and it enters my username and password. If Apple's implementation was able to recognise the website/app you wanted to log in to and do it with a single touch of the home button I would cream in my jeans.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
Edsel
77 months ago
Fingerprint technology will fail.

Fingerprint security technology will fail because the technology to counterfeit fingerprints will prevail. Fingerprint theft will become widespread. Think about all of the things you touch and grasp in the public domain everyday.
Rating: 3 Votes

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