Production Of The iPhone 5S May Be Delayed Because Of Fingerprint Sensor Issues
by Brent Dirks
April 22, 2013
Issues with the fingerprint sensor of the next-generation iPhone may delay the beginning of its mass production.
According to Reuters, suppliers originally believed production would be ramped up starting in June. But that has apparently changed:
That date may have begun to slip beyond June, the sources said. The phone, widely referred to as the iPhone 5S, is expected to include new features such as a fingerprint sensor. A supply chain source in Taiwan said Apple was trying to find a coating material that did not interfere with the fingerprint sensor, and this may be causing a delay.The story, which mainly focuses on Apple supplier unease, also mentioned the rumored low-cost iPhone:
In addition to the 5S, suppliers say Apple is also developing a cheaper model, which can appeal to lower-income buyers in growth markets such as China and India. A supplier source in Japan told Reuters small-scale production of display panels will begin in May, ramping up to mass production in June. Both phones will use the same 4-inch screen, but the cheaper version will probably not include the new fingerprint technology and sport a cheaper plastic casing, the sources said.Just last week, we reported that Foxconn has begun to hire additional employees for the production of the so-called iPhone 5S. But I’d rather see Apple take its time and get the handset right. A recent rumor also pegged the new phone to have a 12-megapixel camera and improved low-light shooting capabilities.
