Analyst sees delays for Apple iPhone 5S, low cost iPhone and Apple iPad mini 2; stock plunges

Jefferies analyst Peter Misek says that Apple could be facing a couple of disappointing earnings reports ahead. Misek says that Apple is being forced to delay the launch of the Apple iPhone 5S, the low cost version of the Apple iPhone and the Apple iPad mini 2. Misek has a different reason for the delay of each device which comes after his recent visit to the Far East.

According to the analyst, the Apple iPhone 5S is having pre-production issues. Mass-production of the phone is at least a month away, Misek stated. Along with the delay in iOS 7, he says a July launch of the next iteration of the iPhone is out of the question. He also says that there is no chance that we will see the Apple iPhone 6 in calendar year 2013. That last point is a bit odd since no one had expected the iPhone 6 until 2014.

The low cost version of the Apple iPhone, expected to be produced for emerging markets like China and India, is now delayed and Misek sees a Q4 launch a possibility. Lastly, problems that Apple's partners are having producing Retina display screens for the next Apple iPad mini could lead to a launch later in the second quarter than originally thought. Raising the resolution on the iPad mini was an important target for Apple since the 1024 x 768 resolution screen on the current 7.9 inch device has a rather poor pixel density of 162ppi.

The combination of the possible product delays and a weak market disturbed by domestic events, pushed Apple briefly under $400 earlier on Wednesday. The stock, which hit a 52 week high last September 21st at $705 on the launch of the Apple iPhone 5, is now trading at $401, down more than 5% on the day, or $25. Wednesday's low was $398.11 which is a new 52 week low.

source: BGR