Apple's 5G iPhone 12 on track for late 2020 launch

COVID-19 won't stop the next-generation iPhone from making an expected September 2020 debut.

By Businessweek , April 6 2020
Apple's 5G iPhone 12 on track for late 2020 launch

Apple's most important manufacturing partner has reassured investors it can still get the latest 5G-enabled iPhones ready for an autumn launch despite global Covid-19 upheaval.

Hon Hai Precision Industry, known also as Foxconn, which makes most of the world’s iPhones, told investors it’s lost time to travel restrictions and other disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

But with months to go before the first trial assembly lines start up in June, Foxconn can still make the deadline, investor relations chief Alex Yang said on a private conference call hosted by Goldman Sachs.

Foxconn struggled through much of February after the Covid-19 outbreak delayed the return of the hundreds of thousands of workers it needed to assemble iPhones and other electronics.

Playing catch-up

While it’s since resumed normal operations, the month-long hiatus cast Apple’s carefully calibrated product launch schedule in doubt. Much now depends on the course of the pandemic and a postponement remained very much on the cards though the new iPhones should emerge in time to catch the crucial holiday season, Yang said.

“We and the customer’s engineers are trying to catch up the missing gap, after we lost some days due to travel ban. There’s opportunity and possibility that we might catch up,” Yang said. “But if there’s a further delay in the next few weeks, months, then you probably have to reconsider launching time. It’s still possible.”

Foxconn said in a statement Wednesday’s conference call was intended to communicate its thoughts on the latest developments affecting the consumer electronics industry and not focused on any specific products or customer.

The next iteration of Apple’s signature device may well be one of its most important in years – an iPhone that can make full use of the fifth-generation wireless networks that promise much faster video and gaming. The U.S. company is already a step behind Samsung and Huawei, which began selling 5G devices last year.

Trial models in June

Covid-19 is now jeopardizing Apple’s plans. Mass assembly is only one part of the iPhone maker’s supply chain, which encompasses hundreds of suppliers. Apple and its many partners spend months or even years sourcing individual components that are assembled into final products.

Any disruptions to that complex network could slow the introduction of future devices. Trial assembly typically begins in early June and – once finalized – mass production commences in August, Yang outlined.

As China’s largest employer and manufacturer of a plethora of electronics brands, Foxconn encapsulates how the outbreak disrupted the global supply of made-in-China electronics.

Apple scrapped its revenue guidance for the March quarter after the contagion disrupted its production chain: Foxconn forced to postpone the reopening of its “iPhone City” mega-complex in the central city of Zhengzhou while it imposed strict quarantine measures on thousands of laborers.

But Foxconn has since sharply raised signing bonuses to attract new workers and said it reached full seasonal staffing level earlier than an original target of late March.

This article is published under license from Bloomberg Media: the original article can be viewed here

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Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

14 Sep 2012

Total posts 382

COVID-19 may not stop the launch but I'm fairly certain it will stop and make people think if dropping $2000 on a new iPhone is really a priority.

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

24 Jan 2018

Total posts 775

Particularly WHERE it is made and geo-proximity to the source of CoVID-19. I remain furious.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

21 Mar 2017

Total posts 39

Walking around with 5Gs bleeping out of my pocket near my private parts? Ugh, no thanks. I don't want cancer.

02 Aug 2017

Total posts 2

5 G frequencies have been in use for sometime but they are line of sight and much weaker in energy than previous bands of frequencies like 4 and 3 G. You use the 5G band at airports as scanners and the millimeter wave hits the skin and disappears. No cancer risk unless you think Walkie-Talkie talkies are dangerous?


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