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Apple iPhones 'may have two release dates this year'

Bangkok, Thailand 21/12/2018 The logo of Apple brand in front ot First Apple store in Bangkok, Thailand.
Apple is expected to unveil at least four new devices this autumn (Getty)

This year’s crop of iPhones might have not one, but two release dates, according to the latest whispers from Apple’s supply chain.

Apple’s chief financial officer Luca Maestri suggested during an earnings call last week that this year’s handsets might be delayed.

“As you know, the last year we started selling new iPhones in late September. This year, we project supply to be available a few weeks later,” said Maestri.

But a new report from Digitimes, based on data from Taiwanese circuit-board suppliers, suggests that different units may release at different times.

Data from suppliers said that shipments of components for the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Max have already started.

Read more: Apple could still go higher after hitting $1.5 trillion valuation

Shipments of components for the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max will begin later, Digitimes reported.

This hints that there could be two launch dates – an earlier one for the two 6.1-inch devices, and a later one for the smaller and larger iPhones, TechRadar suggested.

In last week’s earnings call, Apple’s Maestri said that new trends such as working from home had been kind to Apple.

Maestri said: “It’s clear to us our products are very relevant to our customers lives and the pandemic has them more relevant than ever before. Working from home, online learning — both trends are helpful.”

“What went better than expected for us was iPhones and wearables. In both cases, April was a tough month for us, very much impacted by COVID-19.”

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A report by Wall Street Journal suggested that Apple will release four new iPhones this year, armed with 5G connectivity for faster internet.

The report suggested that the company will slash the number of handsets that it plans to make in the second half of this year by as much as 20%.

The Nikkei had reported in late March that Apple was preparing to possibly delay the launch of its first 5G iPhones.

The delay comes in the wake of coronavirus-related shutdowns in Apple factories, the WSJ reported.

Apple’s biggest iPhone plant was hit by restrictions placed on Chinese workers due to the coronavirus outbreak earlier this year.