Ming-Chi Kuo: Preorder Demand For iPhone X Could Hit 50 Million Units, TrueDepth Camera System To Slow Productions

Apple's Latest flagship smartphone, the so-called iPhone X, the demand could reach 40-50 million units due to strong interest, says KGI...

Apple's Latest flagship smartphone, the so-called iPhone X, the demand could reach 40-50 million units due to strong interest, says KGI's Ming-Chi Kuo this morning in an investor note. While Digitimes says that suppliers are only shipping about 40% of the volume originally planned for iPhone X production.

Kuo believes that iPhone X production will be in full swing by October. However, the analyst also believes the TrueDepth camera may be the main production bottleneck of a iPhone X ramp, because it combines several more sensors than rival phones, making it harder to reach productions.

The 3D sensing (TrueDepth camera) on iPhone X is composed of a structured-light system, time-of- flight system and a front-facing camera, which represents a far more complex structure than those of rivals. It will therefore be harder to achieve mass production. While we project iPhone X will see output ramp up meaningfully in mid/ late October, tight supply may only start to ease in 1H18F due to strong demand.

KGi still believes that the iPhone X will be supply constrained through the first half of 2018. Apple has already announced that the device will go up for preorder on October 27 with customers receiving the first units on November 3.

It's certainly true that the hardcore early adopter crowd are also those most likely to want the iPhone X, so lower initial sales for iPhone 8 is probably to be expected. As for Apple’s stock, some investors worry that lower iPhone 8 sales will not be offset by iPhone X sales, in part because of the lengthy supply constraints.

Via 9to5Mac, Image Via CNET