The iPhone X is literally just around the corner, and rumors say that Apple will only have 3 million units ready for the first weekend, meaning the device will be sold-out after the pre-order program begins.
A report from DigiTimes suggests that Foxconn will manage to ship 25 million to 30 million iPhone X units by the end of the year, and while that seems like a good number, it's actually lower than what Apple analyst Ming-chi Kuo of KGI Securities originally estimated.
Its previous forecast indicated 35 million iPhone X units would be shipped by December 31, but it turns out that production was slower than expected due to low yield rates and technical issues with some components.
Shipments will reach the desired pace in early 2018, with the same report showing a 50% year-on-year increase next year, when the majority of suppliers resolve production issues. At this point, 3D sensing components used for Face ID cameras are recording an increasing rate of performance at LG Innotek and Sharp , and shipments should reach the target in November and December.
The iPhone X, however, is expected to generate record sales for Apple, although due to limited supply in the first quarter the figures are likely to be well below expectations.
The worst thing for Apple is that the iPhone 8 is not doing very well, mainly because the majority of customers are delaying buying a new iPhone due to the upcoming launch of the new model. So far, iPhone 8 sales are going like the wind and it is relatively unlikely that they will increase, given that the iPhone X is just around the corner.
Compared to the iPhone 8, the iPhone X comes with a number of significant improvements, including a bezel-less OLED display, facial recognition, and no fingerprint sensor, with the top-of-the-range model available in the United States at a price of $1,149.
