Apple to begin assembling iPhone 5 'in mid to late August'
Apple is set to begin production of the next-generation iPhone later this summer ahead of a projected late third quarter launch, according to a new analyst report.
Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty issued the note to clients Sunday after meetings in Taiwan last week, presumably with companies along Apple's supply chain. "Apple’s next iPhone will begin production in mid to late August and ramp aggressively" into the calendar fourth quarter, Huberty wrote.
Huberty predicts a late third quarter release for the next-generation iPhone. As a result of the later than usual launch, Huberty shifted 2 million iPhone units from the firm's third quarter estimates to its fourth quarter estimates, though the firm's full year estimate of 72 million units remain unchanged. However, the analyst notes that if the next iPhone were to come out in early September, it would "drive upside" to Morgan Stanley's lowered estimates.
