iPhone X to Face Supply Issues Until 2018

The new iPhone X will be in limited supply until the end of the year.

Reports of the iPhone X’s manufacturing headaches were aplenty in the months before its release, with features such as TouchID being removed to make things easier. It appears that supply issues will continue once the first batch of iPhones is sold out.

In a new report coming from the famed Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities, fans who miss the early window for the phone’s release might have to wait until 2018 for the iPhone X. It could result in lower than expected output in the all-important holiday season for Apple.

Low Shipments and Production

He estimates the 2017 fall shipments to be around 40 million, down from an expected high of 50 million. 2018 shipments are expected to rise to around 80-90 million.

The iPhone X’s current production still amounts to only 10,000 units a day, according to him, echoing previous concerns of early supply delays. Those are likely to improve with time, especially as the phone is available in only Space Gray and Silver.

iPhone 8 To The Rescue?

The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus duo might help with that. Apple has strategically opened their pre-order window six weeks before that of the more-popular X, which should fuel demand for the mainstream models.

The phones will be available in popular Gold and Rose Gold colors, which should account for some of the sales. Pre-orders for iPhone 8 and 8 Plus go up on Friday, September 22nd.

With the iPhone X marking the first time the main iPhone series aren’t the company’s top-end phones, demand for the mainstream iPhones might be lower than expected.

Ming-Chi Kuo expects features such as the series-first fullscreen display and FaceID to be the most-effective in driving high demand for Cupertino. It is now up to Apple to produce enough to ensure that it meets demand effectively.

via MacRumors