Apple would have cut iPhone 15 production to 2023
Apple must work with a reduced initial production of the iPhone 15, as pointed out by analyst Jeff Pu in a note sent to investors accessed by the 9to5Mac portal. Apparently, in addition to expectations of lower demand, due to the price increase in more advanced models, the cut could be related to problems in the supply of some of the new parts.
Recent reports have suggested that manufacturing of the iPhone 15 family has already begun, at one of Foxconn’s plants in India – the somewhat unusual strategy would be applied to reduce reliance on Chinese factories, which proved to be a problem in launching the iPhone 14. Now , despite the plan to avoid shortages, the numbers of units produced for the new generation of Apple would have been reduced.
In Jeff Pu’s letter, it is indicated that Apple would be forecasting the production of 77 million iPhone 15 units by the end of 2023, a reduction of about 7% compared to the initial projection of 83 million. The percentage seems small, but it represents a drop of 6 million units, a significant number considering the reach that Apple usually has.
The analyst also raises some possible reasons behind the reduction, starting with the price increase of the Pro and Pro Max versions. The more advanced variants already reach a smaller audience, something that should be exacerbated with the higher values. Other than that, the improvements that the company must implement, such as titanium construction, new image sensors and the screen with thinner edges can disrupt manufacturing, as they have a limited supply.
Another point that is not commented on by Pu, but which should influence Apple’s plans for the iPhone 15 is the strategy of keeping part of the previous generation for sale as a more “accessible” option. In markets like Brazil, where prices are a sensitive point in the purchase decision, having this choice distances a good portion of the public from newer (and more expensive) solutions.
The letter also gives a brief glimpse of the future by reinforcing rumors of some of the news that we should find on the iPhone 16, expected by the end of 2024. According to the analyst, Apple would already be negotiating the supply of Wi-Fi 7 chips, a new 48 MP ultrawide lens and updated components for Bluetooth and Ultrawide Band (UWB).
With a launch scheduled for the first half of September, the iPhone 15 line should bring a greater number of improvements compared to its predecessor, with emphasis on the aforementioned thin edges, titanium construction and improved cameras. It is also expected the debut of the A17 Bionic processor, possibly the first to be manufactured in 3 nm by TSMC, and the USB-C port, with Thunderbolt technology for high-speed transfers.
