Apple Delays Mass Production of 2020 Flagship iPhones (wsj.com) 22
According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is delaying the production ramp-up of its 2020 flagship smartphones by about a month, "as the coronavirus pandemic weakens global consumer demand and disrupts manufacturing across Asia, the heart of the consumer electronics supply chain." From the report: Apple is forging ahead with plans to release four new iPhone models later this year, people familiar with its plans say. The phones, some with 5G connectivity, will vary in price and come in three sizes -- 5.4 inches, two measuring 6.1 inches, and one at 6.7 inches, all featuring organic light-emitting diode, or OLED, screens, the people said. Apple's annual product refresh fuels the majority of iPhone sales for an entire year, making new phones the linchpin of a business segment that accounts for more than half of the company's total revenue.
Apple usually unveils new iPhone models in mid-September and begins selling them before the end of the month. To do so, it usually ramps up mass-production in the early summer, building up inventory around August. This year, while Apple would still be building some of the new phones in the July-to-September period, the mass-production ramp-up will slide back by about a month, the people said. Apple is slashing the number of handsets that it plans to make in the second half of this year by as much as 20%, one of the people said. It isn't clear whether the slashed amount for 2020 would be pushed back into 2021 for manufacturing.
Apple usually unveils new iPhone models in mid-September and begins selling them before the end of the month. To do so, it usually ramps up mass-production in the early summer, building up inventory around August. This year, while Apple would still be building some of the new phones in the July-to-September period, the mass-production ramp-up will slide back by about a month, the people said. Apple is slashing the number of handsets that it plans to make in the second half of this year by as much as 20%, one of the people said. It isn't clear whether the slashed amount for 2020 would be pushed back into 2021 for manufacturing.
With 16% unemployment (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm guessing a lot of people won't be looking to spend north of $1000 on a new phone.
Re:That depends (Score:4, Informative)
"Free" meaning here an adhesion contract for 5 years or 'til the end of the world, whatever happens later, running on about 50 bucks a month.
Minutes cost extra, certain fees apply.
Frankly, getting a loan and paying it off is cheaper.
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However the other 84% just got $1200.
I am not trying to make light of the unemployment. Just that there are going to be a lot of people getting extra money that isn’t in their normal budget.
For these people who don’t need the money for essentials will spend on more luxury items. Furniture, automotive down payment, clothing, and cell phones.
Yes there are some people who will donate to people in needs, or save/invest it for a time they may not be as well financially. But I expect most will squa
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The question is now just what fraction of those 84% also decides to keep those 1200 instead.
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However the other 84% just got $1200.
Wait...if you're part of the 16% unemployed, you don't get the $1200? That doesn't seem fair.
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I would hope the unemployed would be using that to pay rent and cover essentials until their unemployment gets in and can adjust their lifestyle for lower money.
They are getting money too. But as the grandparent post stated they may not be apt to buy a 1k premium phone
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Not only that, but exchange rates in most countries are high right now. For example, the iPhone SE may cost 399 in the USA, but it's 599 in Canada [apple.com] (even though it should have been around 560~575). Then, remember that average salaries are lower in Canada, so 599 to us is probably like 699~799 to you. For a so-called "low-cost iPhone".
Now imagine the insane prices of flagship iPhones in Canada and other countries, add the pandemic, and we stop wondering why Apple are delaying new flagship phones.
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Only a month? (Score:2)
Apple better be careful (Score:2)
Or will the Apple fans just say oh well!
Just my 2 cents
Re:Apple better be careful (Score:4, Insightful)
It's not as if there are a whole lot of options, even for non-Apple buyers. Samsung phones are mostly made in Vietnam, I think; but most other phones are still made in China. Even Taiwanese companies do a lot of their manufacturing in mainland China.
And people who react with a knee-jerk "damn commies" when they hear the name "China" are probably not going to react particularly favorably when they hear "Vietnam", either.
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We have a short term memory.
When things go over we will go back to choosing the cheapest option.
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Re:Good news (Score:4, Informative)
People already didn't need to buy a new iPhone every year, or even every other year. It's not that processing power has peaked, but that older phones are simply still "good enough" and new models are not that much more powerful than their current phone.
Most of the iPhone SE buyers are iPhone 5/6/7 users, for example. In many forums, a lot of iPhone 7 users are not even tempted to upgrade because they don't have any reason to upgrade.
I have a 6. I'll update it when... (Score:2)
... something comes out with a rational price and UWB [computerworld.com].
I'm betting Apple will put UWB into as many of their gadgets as possible, up and down the price line, to increase the coverage of their locator grid; this hopefully means an SE with UWB in the near future.
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I would have liked to get something with UWB too, but not at the cost of having a notch, FaceID or a 1520$CAD price tag.
For me, the only things missing from the 2020 SE are the headphone jack which I already knew it wouldn't have, UWB support which I was only hoping for, and the lidar scanner which was wishful thinking.
I feel like amazing things are on the verge of happening with AR and lidar is the key for it. Any future Apple AR headset/glasses should logically have lidar built-in, so all the associated i