There has been much speculation lately about whether or not Apple will need to delay iPhone 12 production, either due to supply-chain difficulties or over fears that demand won’t be there by the fall.
A new report today says that Foxconn’s iPhone 12 production remains on schedule, though there do remain doubts about upstream suppliers when it comes to mass-production in the summer …
Background
Doubts were crystallized last week when a Nikkei report said that Apple was considering delaying the launch beyond September.
That the iPhone maker was ‘considering’ that possibility would be no surprise, but one specific claim in the report was contradicted later in the week: that printed circuit board suppliers have been asked to delay production.
However, the current global climate has led Apple to discuss if it should delay the phone by a few months. In addition to the obvious supply constraints, Apple is reportedly worried that customer demand for a new flagship phone will be weak as the coronavirus has affected consumer confidence and spending.
A weekend report suggested a third possibility: that there have been delays, but not definitive ones.
Latest iPhone 12 production report
A Bloomberg piece today says that Foxconn, at least, remains on track.
However, it does go on to say that the iPhone assembler is of course dependent on a massive upstream supply-chain of components, and it’s not known whether they will all be able to cope with mass-production volumes.
All of which is a way of saying we’re still in wait-and-see mode for now.
Foxconn profits down
The piece says that Foxconn’s profits fell 6% last year, likely on reduced demand caused by the US tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. It’s not yet known what impact the coronavirus disruption has had.
Render: EverythingApplePro
