Apple’s ‘iPhone 12’ Launch May Be Delayed Due to Coronavirus: Analyst

Will Apple’s upcoming ‘iPhone 12’ line up be launching on time this fall? One analyst from Bank of America (BofA) believes the global outbreak of coronavirus may cause delays.

According to Bloomberg, the BofA report says the launch timeline for iPhone 12 will “depend on how production ramps back up in April and May,”:

Bank of America wrote that Apple’s highly anticipated 5G iPhone could see its fall release delayed by a month as a result of the outbreak. The firm cited a conversation with an expert on the company’s supply chain, Elliot Lan. Lan also expects the launch of the iPhone SE2 will be delayed “by a few months” due to “both supply issues as well as the weaker demand environment from COVID-19.”

According to BofA analyst Wamsi Mohan, the launch timing for upcoming models will “depend on how production ramps back up in April and May.” Earlier this week, iPhone maker Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. said it expects its Chinese plants to begin operating normally by the end of March.

But not everyone thinks there will be a delay. Nomura Instinet analyst Jeffrey Kvaal recently wrote the “risk of a major supply shock is declining,” adding supply constrains “seem likely to be short term in nature.”

Earlier this week, Apple’s supply chain partner and maker of iPhones, Hon Hai Precision, said its plants in China are expected to start operating at normal capacity by the end of March.