Rumours are on the rise about possible delays or limited supply for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 Pro.
The phone’s expected arrival may be pushed back until October, and there’s a chance it could face stock shortages, as per multiple leaks.
Part of the potential shortage is attributed to challenges in manufacturing the new screens used in the premium Pro and larger Pro Max models, according to a recent report from The Information. Apple’s effort to reduce bezels around the display has made the production process more complicated for the new device.
Even if the phone manages to arrive on time, it is still likely to be impacted by stock shortages, as stated in the same report.
The manufacturing issues occur during the process of attaching the display to the phone’s metal shell, leading to some failures. Apple is currently refining the design to enable more efficient production and is exploring partnerships with other manufacturers to build the phone.
A new rumor emerged shortly after a research note from Bank of America Global Research, suggesting the phone’s potential delay by a “few weeks,” potentially into October. The prediction came from analyst Wamsi Mohan, who had accurately anticipated the delay of the iPhone 12 range during its 2020 release.
In 2020, Apple launched the new phone approximately a month later than usual, unveiling it at an event on 13 October and releasing it on 23 October. The iPhone 12 Mini faced even further delays, not hitting the market until November.
Previous delays also coincided with Apple’s introduction of a new redesign, a first since the iPhone X, which debuted two years earlier. However, the issues in 2020 were also partially due to production slowdowns in China caused by lockdowns.
Last year, Apple also postponed the release of the iPhone 14 Plus to October. While the rest of the lineup adhered to the usual schedule, the larger version of the more affordable phone wasn’t available until 8 October.
While the delay may only mean that customers have to wait longer for their new phones, it could have significant consequences for Apple. Pushing the release into the fourth quarter of the year would log the sales in the next financial year in the company’s financial records.
