Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus could be in short supply at launch

A new report published today states that the combination of conservative ordering by Apple and issues obtaining enough parts, will result in a shortage of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus handsets when the phone is launched next month. The waterproof speaker and the dual camera component are both said to be in short supply. Word of this component shortage comes out of Asia where Apple sources many of the parts used on its handsets.

The reliable Nikkei Asian Review said that the shortage of components like the speaker and dual camera module are the results of low yields. The new iPhone models will be the first to offer a waterproof build. The Apple iPhone 7 Plus will be Apple's first handset to sport a dual camera setup. The issue with these two parts has yet to be completely solved, according to Yuanta Investment Consulting analyst Jeff Pu. Pu told clients that he is cutting his estimate of iPhone production (including all models) from July to December of this year to 114 million from his previous estimate of 120 million units.

The analyst also expects Apple to build 74 million iPhone 7 units in the second half of this year, which would be a decline from the 84 million Apple iPhone 6s units built during the same time one year ago. That dovetails with an earlier report that Apple ordered 72 million to 78 million iPhone 7 units for this year.

However, the Nikkei Asian Review says that Apple has ordered 15% fewer chipsets than the amount it ordered last year, while orders for panels are said to be down 20% year-over-year. Another major iPhone supplier received orders for only 54 million components for the new phones and a different supplier says that Apple has ordered parts conservatively this year.


According to tipster Evan Blass, Apple will launch the 2016 iPhone models on September 16th.

source: NikkeiAsianReview via BGR