April 17, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Hit by a supply shortage of key components, Apple will likely ship fewer-than-expected iPhone X handsets, according to industry sources on Oct. 23.

The US tech firm is forecast to stockpile between 2-3 million units before the new iPhone starts to ship next month -- well below the 13 million opening sales figure of iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. 

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“Special materials, configuration, design, processes, equipment and tests are required for the antenna flexible printed circuit board, as the specifications for iPhone X (supplied by Amphenol) are higher than those of iPhone 8. Only Murata and Career Tech can meet Apple’s requirements,” said KGI analyst Ming-chi Kuo in a report. “Murata (originally with a 60 percent order allocation or higher) won’t be able to resolve its issues before the second quarter next year, and thus has been fully replaced by the second supplier Career.”

Apple suppliers that roll out FPCBs used for the new iPhone’s wide-angle camera, what is called 3-D dot projector for the facial recognition solution, are also having trouble meeting the requirements, according to sources.

The 3-D dot projector beams 30,000 invisible dots on a user’s face, which are picked up by other sensors to analyze and identify the face.

Kuo, however, added that iPhone X shipment will soon pick up as the issues with problematic parts have been almost resolved.

The analyst cut the shipping estimates for the iPhone X for the last quarter this year from 30-35 million down to 25-30 million. The iPhone X will hit shelves in some global markets, including the US and India, on Nov. 3.

Sales of the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, meanwhile, are reportedly lackluster, forcing Apple to cut production orders by 50 percent for November-December.

Joe Natale, CEO of the largest Canadian mobile carrier Rogers Communication, said in a recent interview with Reuters that sales of the two iPhone models have been “anemic.” He did not divulge sales figures in the nation.

The two iPhone variants, which went on sale on Sept. 22, have also been embroiled in a swelling battery issue, stoking concerns over product safety. After a series of reports about iPhone batteries ballooning, the US firm has launched its own investigation.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorpcom)