First batches sent to the Netherlands and UAE, report says

Oct 16, 2017 09:42 GMT  ·  By

Apple fanboys, rejoice! The iPhone X is ready for its public launch, according to a new report, as Foxconn has started shipping the device to certain markets across the world.

Cupertino promised to start pre-orders for the iPhone X on October 27, ahead of the beginning of shipments on November 3, but in the last few weeks, several people familiar with the matter indicated that a substantial delay was very likely.

Even though Apple itself hasn’t said anything about holding back the iPhone X a little longer, sources suggested that due to production struggles, the company might decide to delay the launch until December. Others, however, claimed the iPhone X was still prepared for a November launch, albeit with limited stocks.

And as it turns out, the second rumor is closer to the truth, as Digitimes writes that Foxconn is now shipping the first batches of the iPhone to the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates. And just like speculated lately, the first shipments are much lower than they were for the previous iPhone models, so there’s a good chance the iPhone X will be available in limited numbers at first.

Only 46,500 iPhone X units shipped so far

Foxconn has reportedly increased production of the iPhone X from 100,000 units per week to no less than 400,000 units per week, but this is a manufacturing pace that’s still below estimates. Analysts forecasted sales of the iPhone X to reach up to 35 million units before the end of the year, but at this production pace, these figures can hardly be reached.

Until now, only 46,500 units have been shipped, the report states, but given that production has already been accelerated, Foxconn’s Zhengzhou and Shanghai facilities should build many more units in the remaining weeks until the launch.

It remains to be seen if the initial iPhone X supply will indeed be limited or not, but for the time being, it looks like customers in the Netherlands and the UAE are the luckiest of us all.