The iPhone X is facing 'severe short supply' and will be hard to find

Advertisement
The iPhone X is facing 'severe short supply' and will be hard to find

Tim Cook

Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook will have an iPhone X and you won't.

It's going to be really hard to get your hands on an iPhone X when it comes out.

Advertisement

The latest sign that Apple's new high-end phone is going to be difficult to find comes from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is tapped into Apple's Asian supply chain.

"Due to component supply constraints, we estimate current production of the OLED iPhone at less than 10k units per day, which means the model will remain in severe short supply for a while," Kuo wrote in a note distributed to investors on Monday.

Complimentary Tech Event
Transform talent with learning that works
Capability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More

At 10,000 per day, Apple would make fewer than 1 million iPhone X units in a quarter. Kuo had previously forecast iPhone X production of 4-5 million iPhone X units in its first quarter, and some analysts have forecast 5 million sales in the phone's first week on sale.

"Furthermore, we estimate that the gold version of the OLED iPhone will encounter some production problems and will initially be available only in extremely low volume. There is even a chance that the gold version will go on sale at a later date than the other versions. However, we believe these shipment delays will have a limited impact on the shares of Apple and its supply chain members," Kuo continued.

Advertisement

So if you want the latest iPhone, you might have to wait. Kuo's note comes shortly after a Wall Street Journal story as well as strong chatter that Apple has faced production issues with its new flagship phone. TechCrunch later wrote that Apple plans to announce the high-end iPhone X on Tuesday, but that it will ship to consumers later than usual.

Apple also plans to release two other new models of the iPhone that will most likely ship shortly after Tuesday's event. These will be called the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus and will be revised versions of the current iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.