Two separate analysts are foretelling bad news for Apple, and Apple fans, and warning that upcoming devices could be delayed until later this year. Apple is expected to announce at the very minimum this year, an iPhone 5 and an iPad 2, along with speculation about smaller iPad tablets and an iPhone nano device.
However, FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger has written a research note warning that the expected iPhone 5 could be delayed until September due to problems with component suppliers and delays in placing orders.
"For the iPhone 5, we continue to hear that a July launch is unlikely, with various casing suppliers and touch suppliers still ramping up, with some chip vendors not having yet received firm iPhone 5 orders, and with other sockets like the image sensor (most likely going to Omnivision exclusively, but with some potential for Sony to split that socket) still in flux," he wrote in a note to investors.
"Given these factors, we think a September launch is more likely, off from Apple's traditional iPhone launch schedule, but giving the firm more time to enhance its next-generation instant communications on the phone."
He has however still raised his forecast for overall Apple smartphone sales to 100 million, from the previous estimate of 75 million, cellular-news reports.
In a totally separate development, Yuanta Securities issued its own research note warning that the next generation iPad could be delayed a couple of months until June. There were rumors of problems with the OS, but those were linked to stories of a smaller screen size as well. It is now presumed that the iPad 2 would be the same size as the current model.
"Our checks suggest new issues are being encountered with the new production and it is taking time to resolve them," the research note said. "As a number of Android 3.0 tablets are being launched in April and May, the delay in iPad 2 shipments may give the Android camp a brief window of opportunity."
