iPhone 5 Constraints Are Possibly Due To Apple’s In-Cell Display Technology [Report]

Apple had released a press release yesterday morning stating that five million iPhone 5s had sold over the weekend.  Many people expected more out of the Cupertino giant, including myself, but they just broke another record, you can’t ask for too much out of them.

Then later on surfaced a report where analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray stated the low-sales were due to iPhone 5 shortages. The analysis was probably correct because shipments for the iPhone 5 are backed up to a whole-month at this point.

Apple’s iPhone 5 is 18% thinner than its predecessor, the iPhone 4S. You could personally thank a new technology labeled in-cell display. The technology combines the touch sensor with the display; allowing for a slimmer device, or room for other components.

While you’re crediting in-cell for the slim device, you could also credit it for the constraints on the iPhone 5. Bloomberg reports with the specifics:

“Apple is facing significant production constraints due to a move toward in-cell display technology,” Ben Reitzes, an analyst at Barclays, wrote in a research note yesterday. “Apple is struggling to keep up with demand.”

According to Bloomberg, in-cell displays are manufactured by LG Display and Japan Display. The two companies will be capable of producing 10 million in-cell units during the third quarter, and even more with the upcoming December and March quarters.

During the holiday season Apple is predicted to sell nearly 49 million iPhones. Gene Munster has cast such a high estimate because of the large backorder Apple has seen already.

 

P.S. - Like our news? Support the site with a coffee/beer. Or shop with our Amazon link. We use affiliate links when possible--thank you for supporting independent media.