Production Delays Could Mean Short Supplies of the New iPhone

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By Trey Thoelcke Published
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Rumor has it that Sharp has fallen behind schedule on production of screens for Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) latest iPhone, just weeks before a planned launch. In fact, Sharp has not started mass producing screens for Apple’s next-generation smartphone, signaling potential supply problems for the U.S. company.

Sharp had planned to begin shipping iPhone screens to Apple by the end of August, but the Japanese display maker is struggling with high costs that have cut into its margins on the screens. It is unclear how far behind schedule the output has fallen, and Sharp has declined to acknowledge that Apple is the customer effected by delays.

Apple has tapped two other suppliers for its screens — Japan Display and South Korea’s LG Display — and is still planning a major product launch on Sept. 12, which many believe will be the next iPhone.

But the delay in Sharp’s delivery raises questions about whether Apple can secure enough iPhone screens to meet the strong demand expected for the new model.

There is a lot at stake for Apple with this new iPhone. Despite its recent court victory over rival Samsung, Apple is still battling the South Korean company for dominance in the smartphone market.

Photo of Trey Thoelcke
About the Author Trey Thoelcke →

Trey has been an editor and author at 24/7 Wall St. for more than a decade, where he has published thousands of articles analyzing corporate earnings, dividend stocks, short interest, insider buying, private equity, and market trends. His comprehensive coverage spans the full spectrum of financial markets, from blue-chip stalwarts to emerging growth companies.

Beyond 24/7 Wall St., Trey has created and edited financial content for Benzinga and AOL's BloggingStocks, contributing additional hundreds of articles to the investment community. He previously oversaw the 24/7 Climate Insights site, managing editorial operations and content strategy, and currently oversees and creates content for My Investing News.

Trey's editorial expertise extends across multiple publishing environments. He served as production editor at Dearborn Financial Publishing and development editor at Kaplan, where he helped shape financial education materials. Earlier in his career, he worked as a writer-producer at SVE. His freelance editing portfolio includes work for prestigious clients such as Sage Publications, Rand McNally, the Institute for Supply Management, the American Library Association, Eggplant Literary Productions, and Spiegel.

Outside of financial journalism, Trey writes fiction and has been an active member of the writing community for years, overseeing a long-running critique group and moderating workshop sessions at regional conventions. He lives with his family in an old house in the Midwest.

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