Only a few units to be available at first, report claims

Sep 11, 2018 06:57 GMT  ·  By

The more affordable iPhone launching this year appears to be the most anticipated product in the entire lineup, but by the looks of things, it’s very likely to launch with a small delay.

Called by many iPhone XC, but recently referred to by Bloomberg as iPhone XR, this particular version would come with a 6.1-inch LCD screen and a single-lens camera as a cost-saving measure.

Apple itself expects this model to be the best-selling version of the entire generation, so it accounts for more than 50 percent of all orders to suppliers, according to people familiar with the plan.

But the cited mentioned above claims that despite Apple being so keen on building as many units as possible, the device is likely to hit a small delay caused by the more complex nature of the display.

Bloomberg notes that “Apple has faced tight supply of the new low-cost model due to minor complications fitting backlights for the LCD screen,” so when the time comes for this iPhone XC/XR to launch, there’s a chance it’ll be available in limited numbers.

Launch in late September or even November

This is exactly what happened last year when Apple took the wraps off the iPhone X, as the device launched later than previously projected due to particular struggles with the manufacturing of the screen. iPhone X hit the shelves in early November, whereas iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus were released in late September.

Right now, it’s not yet known when this more affordable iPhone could go on sale, but some reports claimed a late September launch is very likely. Others believe that Apple could stick with the iPhone X release schedule, so it may see daylight in November.

The device is supposed to be the most affordable iPhone in the entire lineup, with pricing to start at approximately $699 for the base configuration.