Apple iPhone 8 to launch in September, on sale in October

Apple is reportedly going to launch the iPhone 8 in September and start selling units of the new smartphone in October. The new report debunks previous accounts that suggested that the tech titan was going to experience supply shortages.

Just a couple of weeks ago, there were some buzz that Apple isn’t likely going to make the usual September launch of the new iPhone. The reason behind the delay was supposedly the production problems that an OLED iPhone demands. What’s more, the tenth anniversary handset was apparently going to be inadequate in supply to end 2017.

It was previously said that the iPhone 8’s production may start as late as October, or even November. It certainly wasn’t good news to Apple aficionados that expect a new iPhone to be unveiled around August or September. “Severe supply shortages” were reportedly going to continue for an extended amount of time and cap whole shipments of the new iPhone’s units in the latter part of this year.

According to a new report, though, the upcoming iPhone is right on schedule. Units of the new handset are apparently going to commence production in time for a September launch. And Apple is said to start selling the decennial handset in October.

“Upstream to downstream suppliers in the iPhone supply chains – including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), SLP (substrate-like PCB) makers Zhen Ding Technology and Kinsus Interconnect Technology and battery supplier Simplo Technology – are ready to ramp up related iPhone parts starting June,” stated the EDN report as originally quoted by Digitimes. “TSMC will begin to fabricate the wafer starts needed for the production of A11 processes on June 10 and to deliver the chips in volume quantity in the second half of July.”

Kinsus and Zhen Ding both have apparently been able to boost the yield rates of SLP products, making it possible for volume production of the materials by June. The assemblers of the upcoming iPhone 8 handsets – including Foxconn Electronics, Pegatron and Winstron – are also reportedly speeding up the recruitment and training of new labour personnel in China to prepare for the new iPhone’s mass production.

KGI Securities’ Ming-Chi Kuo previously projected that the new handset’s shipments could reach up to 110 million in the latter part of 2017. The analyst, however, stated that a worst case scenario involving 80 million or 90 million shipments is more likely to occur. The Apple iPhone 8 base model with 64 GB storage could possibly sell for US$850 (AU$1,150) while the 256 GB variant could be available between US$950 (AU$1,285) and US$1,000 (AU$1,350).

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