14 DAY TRIAL // Apple’s 2018 iPhone generation is very likely to include three different models, all of which would feature Face ID facial recognition, and the company is reportedly looking into ways to avoid the inventory issues that the original iPhone X experienced.
As a result, Apple wants to begin trial production of the new models as early as the second quarter of the year, according to a Digitimes report citing sources from Taiwan-based IC design houses.
The 3D sensing modules used for Face ID have been blamed for the constrained supply of the iPhone X, and given that the same technology will make it to the new-generation iPhone, Apple technically needs three times more such parts for the new models. At the same time, it needs to make sure that its suppliers have the production capacity to meet demand, so by starting trial production early, all these problems could be prevented.
2018 iPhone generation
On the other hand, it’s worth emphasizing this is just trial production and depending on the results here, Apple can then determine the date when mass production of the new iPhones can begin.
The same report cites the sources as saying that sales of all 2017 iPhones have been lower than expected, and these include not only the iPhone X, but also the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus.
Apple, however, hopes that the 2018 models could boost demand thanks to a rather different approach, including what could be reduced prices for its devices. Rumor has it that Apple is working on a more affordable 6.1-inch LCD iPhone that would still come with Face ID, but instead lack 3D Touch and a dual-camera system.
The new models are projected to hit the shelves in September this year, and given that production could start early, constrained supply is something that Apple wants to avoid by all means.