Production of the Next Generation iPhone May Be Starting Earlier Than Usual

Production of the next generation iPhone is starting earlier than usual, according to DigiTimes' industry sources. Parts and components for production are scheduled to be delivered in the first quarter of 2017, earlier than in previous years.

Apple has requested its chip and component suppliers start trial production, inspection and prepare inventories for the new iPhone series earlier than usual, said the sources. Deliveries of chips and parts for the new models are expected to kick off in the second half of first-quarter 2017, the sources indicated.

This corroborates a report from BlueFin which was then contradicted by FastCompany.


Sources at Taiwan based suppliers claim that they will start working on OLED panel bonding for the device around the end of the first quarter. Apple is also said to have ordered sufficient OLED panels from Samsung for the new device.

Possibly due to the new design, Apple is being more stringent on inspection requirements.

Apple is more active in placing chip orders for the 2017 iPhone series, and has set more stringent inspection requirements for related chips, components, modules and mechanical parts, according to sources at analog IC vendors.

It's widely believed that the 10th anniversary iPhone will be a major update. It will purportedly have a front glass cover and chassis, joined by a metal bezel and an edge-to-edge display that has no bezels on the top and bottom. Additionally, the front camera, Touch ID, speaker, and other sensors will apparently be embedded into the display. Another report claims that the device would be a clear piece of glass with a next-generation OLED screen. More recently, Apple is said to be equipping the phone with wireless charging and a 3D camera.


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