New iPhones and iPad Mini May Not Arrive Until Fall After All [Roadmap]

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Posted April 11, 2013 at 5:40pm by iClarified

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has released a new report adjusting his previous roadmap for new Apple product releases, notes MacRumors.

He previously predicted that Apple would launch new iPhones in June/July; however, that has now been pushed back significantly.

Earlier we estimated that shipments of the new iPhone would begin in July (FDD version) and September (TDD version), while iPad mini 2 would hit the market in August. Currently, market consensus for shipments of iPhone 5S, low-cost iPhone and iPad mini 2 is July, July, and August, respectively. But in light of publicly available information and our knowledge of technological trends, we now think all three products will begin shipments later than our previous expectation and market consensus.

Instead of June/July, Kuo now provides three scenarios that have the iPhone 5S shipping in September, October, or November. This would put the release of the new device right around the typical yearly schedule Apple has followed in the past.

Kuo says that issues affecting the release date for the new devices include:
● Finding the right color coating to not interfere with the iPhone 5S fingerprint sensor.
● Issues with color coatings and surface treatments for the low cost iPhone.
● Technical challenges relating to a Retina Display for the iPad mini.

According to the report, Apple will only single digit growth for Q3, far below the expectation of 30-40% growth.

Take a look at the chart below for more details...