Kuo: mmWave 5G iPhones Have 'Potential Delay Risk,' Production on 6.7-Inch iPhone Delayed to October

Some of Apple's upcoming 5G iPhones could see a delay in production, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in a note shared with investors. mmWave models, which will feature the fastest 5G functionality, have a "potential delay risk" and may launch outside of the normal timeline.

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Production on the mmWave iPhone may be pushed back because of changes to the antenna package that were made in early April, and delays in qualification process services.

The mmWave iPhone will be pushed back because the design of the antenna in package (AiP) changes in early April. Additionally, the test lab is closed and can't offer qualification process services. If the pandemic can't be controlled well until July, then we think that the shipment allocation of mmWave iPhones will decrease to 5-10% from 15-20%.

Kuo says the rumored 6.1-inch and 5.4-inch iPhones will go into mass production in September, but mass production on the larger 6.7-inch ‌iPhone‌ will be delayed until October because it has the "most complicated" design.

Apple decided to start the online qualification process remotely and delegate more tasks to local employees for new iPhone development. The change takes time; therefore, it had caused a one-month delay in entering the engineering verification test (EVT) for all new 2H20 iPhones. We believe that there is a likelihood that new 2H20 6.1-inch and 5.4-inch iPhones will go into mass production in September. The mass production of the new 2H20 6.7-inch iPhone will be delayed to October because this model’s design is the most complicated.

Delaying mass production on the 6.7-inch ‌iPhone‌ until October would result in the ‌iPhone‌ launching later in the fall than expected. Other rumors have also suggested Apple could stagger ‌iPhone‌ launches this year due to production and verification process delays.

According to Kuo, iPhone SE sales were better than expected, but overall demand for iPhones is down. In the worst case scenario, Kuo estimates second quarter ‌iPhone‌ shipments of 29 to 32 million units, declining 20 to 25 percent year over year.

If consumer confidence and purchasing power recover in the third quarter of 2020, ‌iPhone‌ shipments could fall as little as 10 to 15 percent year over year.

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Top Rated Comments

PickUrPoison Avatar
63 months ago
October or even November, doesn’t really matter. If it’s late, it’s late. It’ll be the least of anyone’s worries.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
neoelectronaut Avatar
63 months ago

The 11 Pro models are amazing devices. Waiting a little longer on the 12 won't be a big deal for me and I suspect for other 11 Pro owners.
Why would anyone that owns a iPhone 11 even buy an iPhone 12? The gap in performance has to be minuscule.

Looking forward to see how that 5.4" model pans out. Gonna be the deciding factor between me buying a new phone or just putting a new battery in my 2017 iPhone SE.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dwalls90 Avatar
63 months ago
iPhone 4S and iPhone XR launched in October. iPhone X launched in November. It's not like this is totally unprecedented, and not that bad of a rumored delay considering the challenges the world is facing.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
triangletechie Avatar
63 months ago

While I get your statement, not everyone has a 11 Pro, nor is the 12 Pro for those with the 11 Pro.
That's why I said it isn't a big deal for 11 Pro owners.


Why would anyone that owns a iPhone 11 even buy an iPhone 12? The gap in performance has to be minuscule.

Looking forward to see how that 5.4" model pans out. Gonna be the deciding factor between me buying a new phone or just putting a new battery in my 2017 iPhone SE.
People with disposable income. People who like to update yearly. AKA many on this site.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
triangletechie Avatar
63 months ago
The 11 Pro models are amazing devices. Waiting a little longer on the 12 won't be a big deal for me and I suspect for other 11 Pro owners.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mtneer Avatar
63 months ago
What's all the fuss about this mmWave? From what I understand you can only use it within line of sight from a tower unit and is very sensitive to even slight changes in unit orientation. So, how is this better than just plain old WiFi???
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)