iPhone 5 Release Date: Initial Shipment Could be Delayed by Defect
Apple may be facing serious production delays with the iPhone 5, according to 9to5 Mac.
The site reported that sources who have ties to Apple and its manufacturing partners claim the iPhone creator may not be able to release its next generation smartphone until sometime in 2012.
The continued design and production delays pertain to the rumored teardrop shaped iPhone 5.
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DigiTimes reported that touch panel maker Wintek is to blame.
Wintek supplies one quarter of iPhone 5 touch panels, according to the website.
The company’s supplying defective touch panels to Apple which may affect the ability to meet initial shipment targets for launch which is rumored to be in October.
DigiTimes describes the problem as the “delayed bubble” defect which is an issue that must be detected early in order to avoid while laminating the touch panels, according to the publication.
Apple is no stranger to production complications.
The iPhone 4 suffered a similar fate when the company spent eight months trying to figure out how to make it work so that light leakage does not degrade camera performance.
Apple products are not simple to produce.
Apple plans to unveil the iPhone 5 at an October 4 media event, according to the latest rumors.
The next generation smartphone is expected to sport an 8 megapixel camera capable of filming 1080p HD video and a larger display.
Sprint, AT&T and Verizon are all expected to carry the new iPhone when it is released.
These production delays probably will not affect the unveiling, but might hurt availability.
Customers eager to get their hands on a new Apple smartphone may have to wait until 2012 unless the problem is corrected soon.
The iPhone 5 is expected to break records and cement Apple's market share.
