Apple Diversifies Suppliers for iPhone 7 Due in September

Apple will rely on multiple manufacturing partners to assemble the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, including Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron, according to Taiwanese website DigiTimes.

The new 4.7-inch model will reportedly be assembled by Foxconn and Pegatron, while the 5.5-inch model will be made by Foxconn and Wistron. Apple typically diversifies suppliers to aim for a smooth iPhone launch.

"Wistron was a manufacturer of Apple's iPhone 5c and has already prepared sufficient capacity for the next-generation iPhone orders," the report adds. Wistron has also been tasked with iPhone SE orders.

The report unsurprisingly confirms that Apple's next-generation flagship iPhones will launch at the end of the third quarter, setting the stage for a traditional September announcement and release, likely by no later than the third week of the month.

DigiTimes has a mixed track record at reporting on Apple's upcoming product plans, but its sources within the upstream supply chain have proven reliable at times.

Rumors suggest the iPhone 7 could retain a 6s-like design with a faster TSMC-built A10 chip, slightly larger battery, waterproofing and dustproofing, repositioned antenna bands, no headphone jack, faster Intel LTE chips, and more. Meanwhile, the larger iPhone 7 Plus (or Pro) could have a Smart Connector, dual-lens camera, and 3GB of RAM.

Other rumors surrounding the next-generation smartphones have included a flush camera, touch-sensitive home button, stereo speakers, and wireless charging, but it remains possible that Apple dropped some of those features or chose to include them on the OLED-based iPhone with glass casing rumored to launch in 2017.

Foxconn and Pegatron are recruiting new employees to assist with the iPhone 7 series production ahead of September.