Market analysts have said that Apple will be posting lower profits this quarter when compared to the first quarter of 2012, and will also have to deal with later than expected launch dates for the iPhone 5S, the less expensive iPhones and the new iPad Mini. This delay in the expected launch date has been blamed on production issues and material shortage especially with respect to the iPhone 5S’ fingerprint scanner.
Apple also hasn’t been performing as well in the market as it did in previous years. LG Display also posted a lower profit this quarter which has been blamed on falling demand for iPhones and iPads. Another Apple partner that has also suffered because of falling demands is Foxconn,which is also seeing eroding profits.
Apple was expected to launch the new iPhone this summer but market analysts have said that the phone will launch sometime in September this year. Expectations with respect to the iPhone 5S are already high and rumours point towards the phone wielding a 12MP camera, a fingerprint scanner, a ‘smart flash’ that lets users focus the camera flash on different subjects.
The iPhone 5S’ rumoured smart flash.
Apart from the top of the line iPhone 5S, Apple is also expected to launch a lower cost variant of the iPhone with a plastic body.
Sources: GSM Arena, Investor’s Business Daily