The pandemic and the resulting shortage of semiconductor components have disrupted many industry trends, but this is unlikely to discourage consumers from purchasing gifts during the so-called sale season. According to analysts at Wedbush Securities, over the weekend alone, Apple was able to sell more than 10 million iPhones, and about 40 million smartphones will be sold by the end of December.
Apple was able to sell 10 million iPhones in the past weekend alone
According to Wedbush Securities, Apple stores continue to suffer from a shortage of iPhone 13 Pro smartphones; with demand exceeding supply by about 15% and order waiting times stretching for weeks. In total, according to the results of the fourth calendar quarter, Apple can sell more than 80 million smartphones. In China alone, in December, according to the source, at least 15 million iPhones could be sold.
According to experts, the impact of the shortage of chips on the availability of smartphones for sale will be temporary; and the deferred demand for the iPhone will be able to support Apple’s financial performance for a long time to come. The company’s new fiscal year began in October on the company’s calendar and could sell nearly 100 million AirPods wireless over the next 12 months, Wedbush Securities said. This product category is expected to generate more than 5% of Apple’s total revenue in FY2022.
Gizchina News of the week
Apple will use proprietary 5G modems in iPhones starting in 2023
According to Nikkei Asia, TSMC would begin production of the first 5G modems, designed by Apple; so that they could be included in the iPhones that will be released in 2023. This would thus be the conclusion of a long internal effort by the Cupertino giant to gain its independence from players like Qualcomm, or Intel.
In 2019, moreover, Apple had bought from Intel a large part of its mobile division, focused on the development of 4G / 5G chips and modems. At the time, it was a way to speed up the work already done by Tim Cook’s teams. The Japanese daily indicates that, according to four of its sources; “the manufacturer of the iPhone is developing its own components to handle radio frequencies and millimeter waves; to complement the modem. In addition, Apple is also working on its own power consumption management chip specifically for the modem”.
This new leak is in line with the latest rumors on the issue; which predicted a switch to Apple modems in 2023. Moreover, Qualcomm did not say anything else by detailing a few weeks ago that it was expected to provide modems for only 20% of iPhones by 2023. According to the SoC giant, Apple would continue to use Qualcomm modems for a few markets, at least initially.
A production test phase of these Apple modems has already started and they would benefit from a 5 nm engraving. If TSMC’s plans go as planned, Apple’s SoCs would switch to 4nm as early as next year; while the 2022 iPads and 2023 iPhones would access a 3nm engraving process.
