It seems consumers may have to wait a bit longer for Apple’s game-changing iPhone upgrades.
Rather than releasing a new model iPhone with major upgrades every two years as has been its habit, Apple is reportedly extending its upgrade cycle for big changes to every three years.
According to a report from Nikkei Asian Review, the iPhone scheduled for release this fall will look just like the iPhone 6 and come with only minor upgrades, like camera quality, water resistance and an extended battery life. Nikkei said the major improvements – including the adoption of an OLED display – will “likely” come along in 2017.
Nikkei did not cite its sources for the information, but has previously reported on information from Apple’s component suppliers that indicates the tech giant has drastically reduced its orders for the iPhone’s A10 chips.
Earlier this month, a source from Apple’s only supplier of A10 chips for the iPhone reportedly told Nikkei chip shipments in the June to December period are expected to be only 70 percent to 80 percent of last year’s total.
In the middle of April, reports surfaced Apple was planning to extend production cuts of nearly 30 percent instituted in the January to March period through at least the second quarter.
However, a report from Taiwan’s Economic Daily cited by Barron’s Asia said Apple has put in an order for the assembly of between 72 million and 78 million new iPhones by the end of this year. Barron’s said the figure handily topped analyst expectations of just 65 million iPhone 7 devices and marked the highest production target in nearly two years.
Apple stock was down less than one percent Tuesday morning on the news.
Filed Under: Devices
