Some people will do whatever it takes to get the latest and greatest device that's out there, even if its purported benefits are actually quite miniscule. Still, it's hard for someone to get their hands on the next-generation option if it's not available. It's a classic example of the law of supply and demand, but it may be affecting fans of Apple's iPhone in a bad way over the course of this year.
According to Peter Misek, an analyst with the global investment banking firm Jefferies, Apple will dramatically decrease the number of iPhones it makes for the remainder of this year. During the next six months, the expected number of new Apple smartphones to hit the market may be up 35 million units below initial expectations.
Why this is happening, and what you can do about it
So, is this the beginning of the end of Apple? Does this mean that our beloved iPhone will soon go the way of the dodo bird and Atari? Well, not likely. Analysts like Misek look at a whole host of factors when determining these calculations, and the key ones have something to do with consumer demand.
The International Business Times reported that one of the variables affecting shipment orders is in regard to the companies Apple partners with to get its supplies. Since the chips and wiring that goes into the final product is frequently made elsewhere by a third-party firm, if something happens on their end, then Apple and eventually the consumer is affected.
Plus, according to the International Business Times, Apple is curtailing shipments in advance of the release of the iPhone 6. Although no official details about that model have been released to the public as of yet, many rumors about it abound. Industry insiders predict that it will likely be a significant improvement over the 5 and 5S, and it may even have a screen size that is so big that it will be considered a phablet, a term used to describing devices that are a cross between a smartphone and a tablet. As a result, Apple may be purposefully cutting back a little bit on iPhone 5 and 5S supplies in preparation for the launch of the iPhone 6.
Nevertheless, at the end of the day, where does all this leave you as the consumer? You can try to get a new iPhone 5S, but stores by you could be out of stock. You could wait until the iPhone 6 comes out, but who knows when that will be. Better yet, use iResQ's iPhone repair service to get your original smartphone back in working order. That way, no matter what Apple does, you will be guaranteed to have a top-of-the-line smartphone with you at all times.