Nikkei’s iPhone XR production stand-down report: Here we go again

Could be real. Could be FUD. With Nikkei Asian Review you never know.

From Reuters’ Apple cancels production boost for iPhone XR: Nikkei:

Apple Inc. has told its smartphone assemblers Foxconn and Pegatron to halt plans for additional production lines dedicated to the iPhone XR which hit shelves in October, the Nikkei reported on Monday.

Apple had also asked smaller iPhone assembler Wistron to stand by for rush orders, but the company will receive no orders for the iPhone XR this season, the report said, citing supply chain sources.

“For the Foxconn side, it first prepared nearly 60 assembly lines for Apple’s XR model, but recently uses only around 45 production lines as its top customer said it does not need to manufacture that many by now,” the Nikkei quoted a source as saying.

My take: Permit me to quote myself. From Nikkei’s iPhone X supply chain cuts: Here we go again:

Apple to halve iPhone X output on weak holiday sales

Note: The iPhone X was the world’s best-selling smartphone that quarter, despite Nikkei’s 50% output cut.

From Nikkei Asian Review, June 8, 2018:

Apple warns suppliers of 20% drop in new iPhone parts orders

My take: Permit me to quote Daniel Eran Dilger:

Everyone in the industry should know that “channel checks” of Apple suppliers offer largely worthless data. But every January, Japan’s Nikkei newspaper unloads a report suggesting that Apple is scrambling to slash production of its newest iPhone because of disappointing sales. Every year that report has been false, and every year the tech media falls for it.

Among the outlets that took Nikkei’s bait Friday:  CNBC, Reuters, CNN Money, The Street and SA News. Apple fell 2% in overnight trading. Mission accomplished.

See also: Who ya gonna believe, Nikkei Asian Review or your lying eyes?

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