Five Weeks In And iPhone 5s Supply Levels Continue To Decline
October 25, 2013
Much of the attention this week focused on the arrival of Apple’s two new iPads. Here’s a story that brings that attention back to Apple’s most important product: the iPhone 5s.
Apple’s signature product is still hard to find in stores — five weeks after it was first released. In fact, supply levels for the iPhone 5s have actually fallen slightly in the past three weeks, according to CNET.
In his latest report to investors, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster notes that availability of the high-end iPhone has dropped to less than 5 percent of all iPhone models. On Oct. 11, Munster reported an availability of 6 percent. Soon after the iPhone 5s was released, Munster reported supply levels of 27 percent.
Munster believes that supply levels won’t catch up with demand until at least December. Currently, Apple’s online store shows an estimated ship date for the iPhone 5s of “two to three weeks.”
For his analysis, Munster looks at supply levels at 60 different U.S. Apple retail stores three times a week.
Interestingly enough, the iPhone 5s (along with the iPhone 5c) arrives today, October 25 in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, French West Indies, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Thailand.
The handsets launch on Nov. 1 in Albania, Armenia, Bahrain, Colombia, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, India, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates.
For iPhone 5s availability in your area, take a look at this handy tool.
See also: For September, Apple Was The No. 1 US Smartphone Seller, Boost Mobile To Offer Apple's iPhone 5s And iPhone 5c Beginning Nov. 8, and New Report Offers Precise Details Concerning iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c Production.