Both the tech world and Wall Street are excited to see a hit iPhone this year. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is rumored to launch a completely new iPhone in September alongside “iPhone 7s” and “iPhone 7s Plus”. But a new report from Apple’s famous analyst (via Apple Insider) suggests that the special iPhone model, dubbed the iPhone 8, could be delayed due to some production difficulties.
Kuo, an analyst at KGI Securities, said in a note to his clients on Wednesday that Apple could delay the release of the iPhone 8 for two to three months. He cited some of his sources in the iPhone maker’s supply chain.
The analyst did not specify what production issues could possibly delay the phone’s release.
But, last month, a report from the Nikkei Asian Review claimed that the iPhone 8’s product might be affected due to Samsung OLED problems. The iPhone 8 is said to feature a curved OLED display supplied by Samsung.
OLED is better technology that traditional LCDs. It offers better contrast ratio, colors, and improved viewing angles while consuming less power than LCDs. Also, OLEDs do not require the backlighting.
The iPhone 8’s production ramp could be pushed back to as late as October or November, according to the reports.
The iPhone 8 is rumored to sport a 5.8-inch OLED screen. The handset is expected to feature a long-distance wireless charging technology, allowing the device to recharge itself from a distance of up to 15 feet. Kuo believes that the wireless charging will be a major selling point for the iPhone 8.
The 10th anniversary iPhone’s OLED screen will be similar to Samsung’s Galaxy S7 Edge, according to the rumors mill. Apple is expected to ditch the home button on the iPhone 8 to make the way for an edge-to-edge display.
In his previous reports, Kuo suggested that the iPhone 8 would have a dual-lens camera that Apple introduced in its iPhone 7 Plus. The Korea Economic Daily claimed in a report that the iPhone 8 will come with a 3D camera.
According to rumors, the premium iPhone model could get a hefty price tag of $1,000. Recently, JP Morgan analyst Rod Hall raised his forecast for the expected “iPhone supercycle” to 260 million units in 2018 from 245 million.
In addition to OLED issues, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is also reportedly facing problems with integrating its Touch ID fingerprint sensor into the handset’s display.
Meanwhile, shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) closed down 0.46% on Wednesday.