Apple is separating the new smartphones into its usual low-cost versus high-cost categories, with big differences between the two models coming down to the camera, display, and battery life.
iOS 13 & watchOS 6 Now Available
Apple's Suppliers Projecting Weak Demand for iPhone 7 Due to 'Lack of Innovation'
Apple recently reported its first year-over-year decline in iPhone sales, with CEO Tim Cook claiming one of the reasons is that the upgrade cycle for the larger iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s series has stretched out longer than it anticipated.
Despite the launch of the lower-priced iPhone SE, that decline is expected to continue into the second half of this year. In reporting its first negative-growth quarter since 2003, Apple forecasted another revenue drop next quarter.
The sales decline is placing downward pressure on Apple's overseas suppliers, who have ridden the iPhone's coattails to success over the past half-dozen years. Not only does LCD supplier Japan Display reportedly expect to post a nearly $300 million loss for the fiscal year ended March, but Nikkei reports that Apple's slowdown is also sending Taiwanese suppliers into a downward spiral.
"Suppliers are saying that they are getting fewer orders for the second half of this year compared with the year-ago period," a source said. "The traditional peak season this year will not be able to compare to the past few years."The report claims Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), one of Apple's primary chip suppliers, may ship up to 30% fewer chips in the second half of 2016 compared to the year-ago period. The decline is attributed to the iPhone 7's expected lack of innovative features, saturation of the smartphone market, increased competition, and a global economic slowdown.
Another source said that for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the sole supplier for the latest A10 chips used in iPhone 7, its iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 chip shipments for the June to December period will likely shrink to 70%--80% of the level reached in the second half of 2015.Apple suppliers Largan Precision, LG Display, Catcher Technology, Foxconn, and Pegatron have and will likely continue to face similar declines in the near term.
Largan Precision, a key high-end camera module supplier for Apple's iPhone, reported its first year-on-year decline in revenue in three years in the last quarter of 2015. The company has suffered a revenue fall for five months in a row since last December.Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, the latter of which may be branded with a "Pro" name instead, in September. Newly leaked drawings suggest both smartphones may have no 3.5mm headphone jack and a single speaker, while a dual-lens camera system and Smart Connector will seemingly be exclusive to the larger 5.5-inch model with 3GB of RAM.
Adam Lin, chief executive of Largan, attributed the dip to a "significant scale-back of orders from a major customer."
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Top Rated Comments
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44 months ago
Finally someone acknowledges the lack of innovation! Hopefully Apple gets a wake up call.
44 months ago
I'm really losing patience with Apple. Massive product line-ups, confusing for the average purchaser. No fresh design, slow/sloppy implementation of software, services and hardware. It really does feel like a downward slope.
Of course, the company can afford to let things slide a bit, they're no going bust any time soon, but I'm considering a move away from Apple for the first time since 1987. I've drunk the cool-aid, my entire ecosystem is Apple, but I'm about done. AirDrop is a mess, hand-off works when it feels like it, software updates are hidden and unclear, search in App Store and iTunes Store is flakey at best. iLife and iWork suites are forgotten and left in the dust by free and inexpensive software from small developers.
Where is the excitement, where is the fun? It really is stagnant.
Just my opinion, others will disagree with me, but surely all will agree there's been nothing exciting for a couple of years. No more 'one more thing'. The iPad is dead, the Mac Pro stagnant, the Thunderbolt Display as good as a fossil. It's a real shame. Incremental updates, while sucking all the colour out of the world.
Of course, the company can afford to let things slide a bit, they're no going bust any time soon, but I'm considering a move away from Apple for the first time since 1987. I've drunk the cool-aid, my entire ecosystem is Apple, but I'm about done. AirDrop is a mess, hand-off works when it feels like it, software updates are hidden and unclear, search in App Store and iTunes Store is flakey at best. iLife and iWork suites are forgotten and left in the dust by free and inexpensive software from small developers.
Where is the excitement, where is the fun? It really is stagnant.
Just my opinion, others will disagree with me, but surely all will agree there's been nothing exciting for a couple of years. No more 'one more thing'. The iPad is dead, the Mac Pro stagnant, the Thunderbolt Display as good as a fossil. It's a real shame. Incremental updates, while sucking all the colour out of the world.
44 months ago
The rumored 2018 iPhone should be coming out in 2017. Apple is losing control... or maybe Tim Cook is losing control of Apple.
44 months ago
Is the iPhone 7 out already? I must have missed it.
Obviously we know everything about the iP7 and have reached an accurate conclusion that it lacks innovation.
Good thing no one has jumped to conclusions.
Obviously we know everything about the iP7 and have reached an accurate conclusion that it lacks innovation.
Good thing no one has jumped to conclusions.
44 months ago
Its probably untrue and they are saying this to generate hype, and to create the illusion of scarcity.
It probably will be a great phone, dual camera, maybe 4k recording, possibly 4k screen, pretty amazing stuff. Like I said, this is probably an artificial marketing ploy
Source: my iPhone 6s
44 months ago
well, I guess I am keeping my 5S for another year. No worries, still working like a charm but Apple is sleeping on the wheel. I think they are focusing on too many things at the same time. Prioritize Mac, iOS devices and services. Car and Watch not so much....
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