On the market for an iPhone? Here's a breakdown of all the currently shipping iPhones from Apple.
Conflicting Supplier Report Now Says iPhone 7 Orders Higher Than Expected
Directly contradicting a previous claim of projected weak demand for the iPhone 7, Apple has reportedly asked its Asian suppliers to prepare for the highest iPhone production target in "about two years", according to Barron's Asia.
Citing a story in the Taiwanese Economic Daily Times this morning, the financial news publication said Apple has requested between 72-78 million units of the new iPhone, which is much higher than the 65 million handsets that Wall Street analysts previously predicted.
Supply chain sources claim that Foxconn will remain the key manufacturer for Apple's next-gen handset, while competing contractor Pegatron will also be involved in the assembly process. Additionally, it is claimed that both companies are expected to get more market share this year, as they participate in dual camera and glass casing components production in addition to being assemblers.
The glass reference contradicts recent reports by iPhone casing supplier Catcher Technology and KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, both of which claim that Apple is planning to use glass for the casing of the 2017 iPhone, in order to differentiate it from aluminum-bodied smartphones on the market.
Earlier this month it was reported that Apple would rely on multiple manufacturing partners to assemble the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus to aim for a smooth launch in September, with Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron at the center of the assembly process.
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.
Citing a story in the Taiwanese Economic Daily Times this morning, the financial news publication said Apple has requested between 72-78 million units of the new iPhone, which is much higher than the 65 million handsets that Wall Street analysts previously predicted.
Supply chain sources claim that Foxconn will remain the key manufacturer for Apple's next-gen handset, while competing contractor Pegatron will also be involved in the assembly process. Additionally, it is claimed that both companies are expected to get more market share this year, as they participate in dual camera and glass casing components production in addition to being assemblers.
The glass reference contradicts recent reports by iPhone casing supplier Catcher Technology and KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, both of which claim that Apple is planning to use glass for the casing of the 2017 iPhone, in order to differentiate it from aluminum-bodied smartphones on the market.
Earlier this month it was reported that Apple would rely on multiple manufacturing partners to assemble the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus to aim for a smooth launch in September, with Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron at the center of the assembly process.
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.
[ 126 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
48 months ago
They can order all they like... I won't be buying one!
Says someone who has no idea what the final product will be and would rather just troll the forums.
48 months ago
Rumors are just all over the place this year. I'm willing to bet Apple is doing this on purpose to throw us all off.
48 months ago
I hope half ot these, ends up in some warehouse. Start innovating Apple, logo on the back won't cut it much longer!
48 months ago
How's that on the planet earth though upgrading each year?
Over 90 percent of the iPhone is recyclable... Think before you speak rather than just concentrating on trolling me.
48 months ago
Analysts keep forgetting about the iPhone Upgrade Program. Since signing up, I am a guaranteed upgrade every year and with this being the first new phone since its inception, demand will be very high. Why not take the newest phone when my monthly charge will remain identical and the only difference in cost to me is a one time charge of tax on the phone?
48 months ago
Would be nice of Apple to actually make enough iPhones to meet launch demand for once.
But that would hurt their illusion of scarcity, so...
48 months ago
because you would extend it, and most people wouldn't do that for a nearly-identical and/or subpar phone.
Even if Apple put out a phone IDENTICAL to an iPhone 6s, you wouldn't upgrade and pay roughly 50 bucks for a phone that is new out of the box with zero wear and tear? A battery with ZERO charging cycles? A charging port with no scuffs or impacted lint? A camera with a fresh CMOS sensor? A cable with no bunching or stretching on the end? A set of unused speakers with no pocket lint in the enclosure? I could go on...
We know that Apple has at least been making incremental upgrades YoY. Positioning within the Apple store is that customers return after 12 months and swap out the old phone for a new model for only the cost of tax. Customers remember that because they see great value in it. "50 bucks for a new phone" sounds cheap enough to return to the store after 12 months. It's basic consumer psychology. Demand for the phone will be healthy on the basic premise of trade-in and curiosity.
48 months ago
I hope half ot these, ends up in some warehouse. Start innovating Apple, logo on the back won't cut it much longer!
If only the comments sections of MR would practice what they preach.[ Read All Comments ]
It was a busy week of rumors as we hit the middle of January, with reports about updates to Face ID in the iPhone 12 lineup later this year, signs of a new Mac notebook coming soon, and word that...
Apple has inked a deal for a docuseries called "Dear..." that profiles famous people using an "inventive and cinematic approach" that involves letters written by people whose lives...
Amazon is no longer selling new versions of the Apple Watch Series 4 and Series 5 models through its online store in the United States, with the listings disappearing earlier today.
There is no...
Asphalt 9: Legends, a game that was ported to the Mac using Apple's Mac Catalyst tools, is now available for download from the Mac App Store.
The app was one of the titles that Apple...
Apple is expanding its presence in Germany with plans to open a new office building in Munich, Germany, according to German news site Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Located in the "Karl" office...
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with ColorWare to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win custom-painted AirPods Pro, available in dozens of colors.
For those unfamiliar with...
Acclaimed actress Meryl Streep is set to narrate a forthcoming animated short film about Earth Day for Apple TV+.
Getty Images
In celebration of Earth Day, which falls on April 22, the...
Speed to the rescue in Kings of the Castle, this week's addition to Apple Arcade across iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. The colorful, family-friendly speed runner game by Frosty Pop supports one to...
