You know the drill: Digitimes, grain, salt.
Today Digitimes re-reports that delays at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) could slow the release of the iPhone 5S and Apple might ship “only 3-4 million units in the third quarter of 2013 compared to 10 million units as originally planned”. The report follows a similar report (now deleted) without numbers or specifics from July 15th. Of course, Apple CEO Tim Cook has noted on multiple occasions that Apple’s plans are difficult to pinpoint based on supply-chain chatter.
Mass production of the fingerprint sensors was originally scheduled to begin in May at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and then to be packaged at Xintec, a TSMC subsidiary, the sources indicated. However, the production of the sensors has been delayed due to issues related to integration between iOS 7 and fingerprint chips, as well as a low yield rate at packaging firm Xintec, the sources revealed.
An engineering team composed of engineers from Apple and TSMC has been dispatched to Xintec recently to help ramp up the yield rate for the packaging of fingerprint sensors, revealed the sources, adding that the supply chain will be able to start volume production of fingerprint chips at the end of August.
If we do assume the above is true, it is useful to know that the third quarter ends in September 28th here. If Apple announces on September the 10th, and there is a week or two for pre-orders, that’s pretty much a launch week/end’s worth of iPhone 5Ss. It is also useful to know that Tim Cook noted during an earnings call that new products would be released in the Fall, which starts September 22nd.
Here's likely iPhone launch window:
Cook said big Fall (begins Sept. 22nd) launch.
Apple inflated Q4 ends Sept 28thhttp://t.co/VhlLKa1I1d— Seth Weintraub (@llsethj) July 24, 2013
It is also useful to keep in mind that Apple is likely going to announce and release value-added iPhone 5C which might drive the majority of new iPhone sales this year.
Finally, these shortage reports before product announcements often turn out to be inconsequential. Apple likely has redundant suppliers for parts and the one leaked above may only be one of the players.
Digitimes also notes production of the iPhone 5S is likely to ramp up to 28-30 million units in the fourth quarter of 2013 thanks to sufficient supplies of fingerprint chips according to their sources.
Related articles
- iPhone 5S to have protruding/convex sapphire home button that doubles as a fingerprint reader? (9to5mac.com)
- ‘iPhone 5S’ (plus gold model), ‘iPhone 5C’ will actually be names of next iPhones? (9to5mac.com)
- Digitimes: Initial ‘iPhone 5S’ shipments to be constrained as fingerprint sensors hit low yield-rates (9to5mac.com)
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From my side, I recently heard that the iP5S launch could be delayed until early 2014… https://twitter.com/stagueve/status/366081693121130498
Has there ever been an unannounced iPhone feature that “could slow iPhone X production” due to low yield rate? Puulease…
Uh its important to note that Apple stated “Fall” last year, and iPhone 5 & iOS 6 launched on September 21st…which was SUMMER.
Why is it that Apple always seems to have problems with components and other companies do not or they’re not being mentioned? Why are there always leaks of problems from unknown parties when it concerns Apple and how are they able to give exact number ranges? How does it help anyone to give out misinformation about a company’s production rates. I think they’re just guessing numbers based on some half-truths.