iPhone 5S, 5C Geared for Actual Release Date on Sept 10 Launch as Q3 2013 Shipment Target Breaches 5M Mark?
It is becoming more possible for Apple to intro the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C then release the iOS 7 devices immediately, with the supposed move backed by increasingly sufficient shipment figures.
While nothing is certain at the moment, the launch day on Sept 10 is likely to be followed by the quick rollout of the 5S and the 5C, which could assume a phased mode, meaning select markets will be pinpointed to get the two handsets just days after their unveiling.
The reason for this, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo, is Apple's iPhone assemblers, led by Foxconn and Pegatron, should be ready to ship out just the right numbers to meet the initial demands coming from say, U.S., UK, Chinese and Australian buyers, which could become the first recipients of the devices.
Mr Kuo said that within the third quarter of 2013, 5.2 million units of the iPhone 5S will sit on Apple warehouses while 8.4 million iPhone 5Cs will be ready for the grand ship outs heading into the so-called holiday quarter that stretches from October to December 2013.
"We hold a positive view on growth momentum along the iPhone supply chain, for which we expect a jump from August followed by sustained growth into September and the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013," Apple Insider reported Mr Kuo as saying in his research note.
At around that time, the 5S inventory will spike to a high of 28 million units with the 5C not lagging too-far behind.
The bottom line is, Apple is sticking to its production and release calendars while likely realising both short-term and long-term goals. In earlier reports, it was suggested that the tech giant could opt for a swift issuance of the 5S and the 5C if only to provide legs on its quest to post record Q3 2013 results.
Mr Kuo's numbers now support such likelihood.
And with the iPhone 2013 thrust seemingly gaining more solid grounds, Apple is well-positioned to boost its market standing in China, which mostly will be underpinned on the so-called budget iPhone 5C, Katy Huberty of Morgan Stanley said in a report.
"Apple could significantly disrupt the Chinese smartphone market by launching iPhone 5C," MacRumors quoted Ms Huberty as saying.
The most interesting of the analyst's report is the assertion that Chinese buyers will scoop up the 5C even when priced at $486, which according to Morgan Stanley has been identified as the sweet spot as far as the 5C pricing in China is concerned.
Easily, the iPhone presence in China will improve by 20 points given Apple will successfully seal a deal with China Mobile soon and the latter to start carrying both the 5C and the more premium iPhone 5S, the same report said.
The iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C are believed to take centre-stage on Apple's scheduled media event on Sept 10, with the release date to follow, if not immediately, in the few weeks ahead.