Apple is reportedly delaying its mass production plans regarding its lineup of iPhones this year.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Wall Street Journal has reported that Apple is delaying production by approximately a month. The reasoning behind the delay is attributed to the disruptions made by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The spread of COVID-19 has left a serious mark on manufacturing across Asia. This has been well discussed over the months since the initial outbreak. As many manufacturing facilities continue to catch up from temporary closures, the butterfly effect appears to have rippled through to Apple’s production.
The report from the Wall Street Journal also states that Apple is expected weaker demand this year. Apple is apparently cutting the number of smartphones produced in the second half of this year by almost 20%. The initial build orders will now be pushed into 2021.
It is expected that Apple will still roll out its planned lineup of four iPhones this year. It is believed that all four will feature 5G connectivity, granting faster internet connections and lower response times.
What’s unclear at the moment is how the production delay will affect the release this fall. Apple typically reveals its iPhone product line in September, with preorders beginning soon after. It’s possible this timeline may be unaffected and Apple will roll out preorders with limited shipments occurring in the first month.
Another possibility could see Apple revealing its 2020 lineup and having consumers wait a month or two before being able to purchase. This harkens back to the release of the iPhone X and iPhone XR in 2017.
Apple has not currently made a statement regarding the production delay.
