Another day, another report that Apple is facing issues with still-unconfirmed devices.
Today's report claims that the iPhone 5S is dallying due to unexpectedly low volume production of fingerprint recognition chips and the device's LCD driver ICs, which could lead to Apple putting the squeeze on first quarter shipments of the new phone.
Issues apparently tied to the the original AuthenTec design of the fingerprint chip led to reduced yield rates, "industry sources" told spotty DigiTimes. It's unclear what's holding back the LCD chips.
The problems apparently led to a halt of production by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and packaging by Xintec, both companies that Apple outsources work to.
Dude, where's my iPhone 5S?
Chip production should have begun much earlier - late June to early July - but will now be slowed to the end of July, or so the report goes.
With assembly on hold, the iPhone 5S launch, which is purportedly supposed to happen in September, will be marred by constrained supplies. DigiTimes cited that about 3 million units of the iPhone 5S in initial shipments will be delayed until the fourth quarter.
So, the takeaway here is that while you'll have fingerprint recognition on your new iPhone to show off to your friends, it may be hard to actually find the device when it goes on sale.
- Speaking of Apple delays...it seems the iPad mini 2 will make a late appearence