Rumors that the iPhone 8 will be delayed have resurfaced, causing concern among Apple fans that they might have to wait longer before they are able to purchase the upcoming premium smartphone.
The iPhone 8 is expected to feature top-of-the-line components and a heavy redesign compared to its predecessors. Unfortunately, it appears that this will cause a delay in the production and release of the highly anticipated device.
iPhone 8 Delay Rumors
According to an investor note from RBC Capital Markets, various supply chain manufacturers have revealed that the production ramp-up for the iPhone 8 is taking longer than expected.
The portion of the iPhone 8 supply chain focused on the OLED display is tagged as the main culprit. As confirmed by industry sources, Apple is expected to integrate the company's Touch ID fingerprint recognition technology into the bottom portion of the iPhone 8. This has caused problems for Samsung, the OLED screen supplier for the smartphone, and a possible one-month to two-month delay in volume production of the component.
The delay has also been experienced by other Apple providers, namely Analog Devices Inc. which supplies sensors and Broadcom Ltd. which supplies wireless components. These companies have seen slow growth in their supply chains for the second quarter.
The iPhone 8 is still expected to be announced alongside the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus in September. However, due to the delays in the supply chain, the iPhone 8 will likely see either limited availability after its announcement, or even delayed availability until the middle of October or November.
Earlier rumors of a delayed iPhone 8 were also related to the edge-to-edge OLED screen of the smartphone. The previous reason was that Apple was finding it difficult to integrate the Touch ID technology into the OLED screen. The rumor was shot down by a report that refuted any delays to the iPhone 8, as several suppliers were said to be preparing to ramp up production last month.
However, while it would appear that Apple has found the solution to integrate the Touch ID into the OLED screen, the component is still suffering from delays on the supplier side.
Will The Delay Affect iPhone 8 Sales?
RBC Capital Markets believes that even if the iPhone 8 is delayed by a month or two, the demand for the upcoming smartphone will not be affected. Even if the device is delayed, it is still expected to be widely available once the holiday shopping season starts.
The iPhone 8 will likely be one of the hottest devices in the market once it rolls out. In addition to the edge-to-edge OLED display, the smartphone is expected to have a 2.5D curved glass back, wireless charging support, and dual rear cameras. It may also be powered by Apple's A11 chipset, with up to 3 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of internal storage.
The question, however, is when the device will be widely available. For Apple, it seems that a two-month delay will be negligible, as the massive hype for the iPhone 8 continues despite a possible $1,000 price tag.
