Apple iPhone 7: You may have to wait a bit for the next iPhone due this year

Apple is indeed the master of marketing and even a master at managing the supply of the components for its iPhones. But this year, things may take a hit with fewer than usual iPhone 7 models hitting the company’s key markets at launch. Mac Rumours points out a report by Nikkei which hints that Apple could have up to 10 million less iPhones out in the markets this time around. All we can say is, expect longer queues at Apple Stores this year! In what may seem like tradition, Nikkei’s report said that Apple could face a supply shortage this year. This would be for both its the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus model, and this is expected to arise due to problems like faulty components and the fact “some suppliers are still trying to fix the low yield rates of their components,” according to an industry source. Yuanta Investment Consulting analyst Jeff Pu is of the opinion that production would hover around 114 million units, which is down from 120 million (for older and newer models). He cites the shortage to waterproof speakers and the dual-camera module, which according to him have problems that have yet to be resolved. [caption id=“attachment_323506” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Image: Martin Hajek[/caption] The same report also focussed on the “weakening demand” of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus that have been associated with the falling manufacturing numbers as well. Unlike every year, the Apple iPhone 7 is expected to be the first iPhone that will stick to a design that is almost identical to its predecessor. While the chipset is expected to get a bump up in terms of performance and the camera modules, a big improvement over the past models, it is the same old design that could disappoint consumers. If Apple’s iPhone 7 resembles anything close to what the rumour mill has revealed so far, we could be looking at a consumer who bored of the same design, and that too coming from a company that is usually expected to bring in new trends every two years. Having a third iPhone that once again looks similar to an iPhone 6 that is two years old, may see a dwindling interest, unless of course Apple can figure out a software hook (a Google Now on Tap-like Siri integration), that’s tied down to the new hardware that makes the new iPhones a worthy upgrade.