Apple raises iPhone component orders, targets new records

What goes down soon goes up again

Digitimes is reporting that Apple is planning for a 30 percent increase in iPhone production in the first half of 2022, which directly rebukes recent claims of dwindling iOS smartphone demand.

Apple raises iPhone component orders

A report this morning (available to Digitimes subscribers) states:

“News from the South Korean component industry pointed out that compared to 2021, Apple decided to increase iPhone shipments in the first half of 2022 by 30%, challenging the annual shipment target of 300 million units.”

That’s a big target and represents the most ambitious target we’ve ever seen Apple commit to – though the claims are once again unconfirmed, and no names are given. Which means they must be considered only as true as any other speculation.

Apple has a lot of tailwind that may help it meet these aggressive shipment targets:

• Pent-up demand as some iPhone purchasers become unable to get hold of a new device into January.
• The anticipated spring release of the lower cost 5G iPhone SE. This is likely to scoop up mid-range sales across multiple markets on release.

Apple is expected to maintain these sales with an iPhone 14 that is expected to feature no notch, new 120Hz displays, upgraded cameras and other enhancements.

Pump and dump

We saw a report last week that claimed iPhone sales had reduced. But this doesn’t seem to represent reality as seen by Goldman Sachs, whose channel checks suggested better than anticipated iPhone demand. Sam Chatterjee of JP Morgan also claims sales remain healthy.

Horace Dediu at Asymco, put it best, stating: “Bloomberg reporting that nobody wants an iPhone because everybody wants an iPhone. This year’s lack of interest in the most popular product in the world is happening even earlier than usual.”

Never mind, if you acquired Apple stock when it fell briefly last week, you’ve probably made a few dollars since.

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