TAIPEI: Worldwide shipments of Apple Inc.’s next- generation iPhone are expected to reach 85 million in the second half of 2015, outpacing shipments of last year’s iPhone 6 models, according to research by an Asia-based brokerage.
In a note to clients released Tuesday, the brokerage said that the component shipment schedule for the so-called iPhone 6S is around one month earlier than for the iPhone 6 in the third quarter of 2014, particularly for the Force Touch and backlight-related components.
The brokerage forecast that 30 million iPhone 6S components will be shipped in the third quarter of this year and another 55 million will be shipped in the fourth quarter, compared with 20 million iPhone 6 components shipped in the third quarter of 2014 and 65 million shipped in the final quarter of last year.
That will make for a flat year-on-year growth for iPhone 6S component shipments in the second half of 2015, said the Asian brokerage, whose name cannot be disclosed because it was offering specific forecasts that could influence the market.
“For the iPhone 6S, the spotlight should fall on Force Touch, a new rose-gold color option, and an upgraded 12-megapixel rear camera from 8-megapixels in previous models,” the brokerage firm said.
“Consumers are eager to see how Force Touch will be applied to end-user applications, and we think this will become a key indicator for sell-through,” it added, referring to sales to consumers compared with “sell-in” as shipments to distributors.
Despite iPhone 6S sell-through concerns, the Asian brokerage still prefers Taiwanese metal casing maker Catcher Technology Co.and Radiant Opto-Electronics Corp. a Taiwan-based LCD backlight module supplier, as the stocks should benefit from price content increases and market-share gains.
The Force Touch technology was first introduced in Apple’s 12-inch MacBook in early 2015, with force sensors to detect clicks on the trackpad and the Taptic Engine to provide haptic feedback and tangible responses to fingertips when users perform certain tasks. The iPhone 6S is expected to be unveiled at an Apple event Sept. 9 in California, where the U.S. technology giant might also debut a 12.9-inch iPad Pro tablet.
