Initial Production of 5G iPhones to Begin in Mid-September [Report]

Apple will begin initial production of its 5G iPhones in mid-September, a delay of weeks instead of months, reports Nikkei.

Manufacturing will begin on a limited scale, with mass production expected to begin gradually between the end of September and early October. This timetable is still behind Apple's usual schedule over the past few years, when mass production began in August for lineups released in September, but it is a large improvement compared with the situation a few months ago, two sources familiar with the matter said.

"We've managed to shorten the delay significantly and we are not stopping here," said another supply chain executive. "The final assembly for some models is still going to be early October, but we are working to keep moving the production as early as possible."


Apple has allegedly ordered components for up to 80 million 5G iPhones to be produced in 2020; however, sources say the number of devices made this year will likely be between 73 million and 74 million.

It's said that assembly will likely start with the lower priced 6.1-inch iPhone that features an OLED screen and two rear cameras. This model purportedly accounts for 40% of the production orders Apple has placed for 5G handsets.

"Production lines will be qualified one by one to enter mass production mode. The bigger scale of mass production will happen around the beginning of October," one executive-level source said.

It's rumored that Apple will launch four new models this year including lower end 5.4-inch and 6.1-inch models and higher end 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch models. A recent report claimed the company will release the next generation iPhones in two stages with the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 and the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro arriving first.


Notably, Nikkei also says that the company's 'Airtag' tracking accessory, has gone into production.

More details in the full report linked below.

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