Apple has changed its release strategy for its upcoming iPhones due to the coronavirus outbreak, suggests a new report.
According to a research note from GF Securities, analyst Jeff Pu has suggested that this year’s premium iPhones – likely to be called the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max – are to be pushed back due to cargo flight delays and production issues, which could mean that some of the models won’t be available in large quantities at launch.
Pu has suggested that the usual tests carried out on new iPhones before they enter mass production have been delayed by around two weeks to late April for the smaller 12 and 12 Pro models, whilst the larger 6.7-inch model won’t be tested until the middle of May.
Because of this, the lower-cost iPhone 12 and the premium iPhone 12 Pro will be available for sale in September, but the premium 6.7-inch model won’t be available until October.
This rollout would follow 2018 when Apple dropped the iPhone XS and XS Max in September and then added the lower-cost iPhone XR to its website and retail stores the following month.
Apple followed a similar staggered rollout in 2017 with the iPhone X, launching the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus in September, and then following them up with the iPhone X in November.
Speaking of the iPhone SE 2, also known as the iPhone 9, Pu has suggested that the company will release the model in the second half of April, as soon as this week.
The new iPhone SE will sport an iPhone 8 design and have a 4.7-inch display, Touch ID, an A13 chip, 3G of RAM and storage options of up to 256GB.
Some reports have suggested that Apple will release a lower-cost iPhone SE 2 for $399 and a successor to the iPhone 8 Plus.
Are you pleased to hear that the next-generation iPhones are still on track? Are you waiting for an iPhone SE 2? Let us know your thoughts on this story over on social media and check back soon for more news and rumors on everything Apple, every week.
