Apple will sell around 46.5 million iPhones by the turn of the year. That is a huge increase compared to the previous quarter, when it sold 'only' 26.9 million units.
According to an analyst at investment bank Stern Agee, cited by Apple Insider, Apple is set to break all records this quarter when it comes to iPhone 5 sales. Analyst Shaw Wu says Apple has completely resolved its supply chain issues. As a result, iPhones will now flood the market as never before.
Most difficult device ever
Supply, the analyst says, is actually going very well, but he adds there may be some issues with assembling the components. That assembly takes place in the Chinese factories of Apple partner Foxconn. The main stumbling block is quality control, particularly with the touchscreen and the aluminum enclosure.
An executive of Foxconn’s parent company, Hon Hai Precision Industry, told The Wall Street Journal in October that the iPhone 5 is difficult to make. As a result, production is experiencing some delays, leading to shortages and longer delivery times. "The iPhone 5 is the most difficult device Foxconn has ever assembled. To make it light and thin, the design is very complicated."
36 billion dollars
Earlier, analysts estimated that the iPhone 5 would bring Apple 36 billion dollars this year. In addition to the newest model, the company is still selling its predecessors, the 4S and 4, in versions with 16 GB and 8 GB of storage, respectively. Those lower-priced older devices also generate significant revenue for Apple.