Whether it is for complications in production or research and development on a larger screen, it is looking more and more likely that the release of the iPhone 5s will be pushed back either to the end of the year or late September.
According to a research note obtained by AppleInsider, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple's newest iPhone will be seeing setbacks in production of numerous components as well as handset assembly, meaning the next-generation smartphone will not be available on its originally scheduled time-table.
"While shipments forecasts may still grow sharply in 4Q13, we are concerned iPhone 5S may face the same problem as its predecessor, namely that by the time supply matures, demand will already have waned, hurting shipments," Kuo writes.
Meanwhile, rumors of the low-cost iPhone Lite's release date and price are getting some traction. Although no one knows for sure, analysts believe the iPhone Lite will be released before the iPhone 5s, perhaps in a similar low-key release that the newest generation of iPod Touch saw. Kuo sees the model being priced between $450 and $550 with shipments capped at 26 million units for 2013. Market consensus had shipments at 30 to 40 million units. In other words, the expectations for the device are not being met just yet.
As for the iPad, Kuo notes a redesigned 9.7-inch version of the iPad will be the "highlight" of 2013 in terms of the company's tablets. Despite rumors, the company is unlikely to release a new iPad Mini this year until it can function with the highly in-demand Retina display. AppleInsider is calling a March or April 2014 release date on a new iPad Mini model.
Although there are no plans to release a new iPad Mini, a low-cost iPad Mini with an A5 processor could launch by the end of 2013, December at the earliest. However, Kuo notes that the low-cost version might not be substantial compared to the price cut the current iPad Mini will likely receive. As a result, the company will likely wait to debut that idea until later next year.
