iPhone 5S hit by fingerprint sensor issues, claims report
Initial shipments of the new phone could be reduced due to production woes with the fingerprint-recognition chips and LCD driver chips, says DigiTimes.
Problems with Apple's fingerprint-recognition technology might trigger a cut in shipments for the iPhone 5S, according to the Taiwan-based DigiTimes.
Citing sources, DigiTimes claims that poor production yields of the chips for both the fingerprint-recognition and LCD drivers will force Apple to trim the initial shipments of the upcoming phone, which is expected to launch this September.
Mass production of both chips was supposed to kick off by late June or early July. But DigiTimes said that the poor yield rates will instead delay volume production until late July, which means initial supplies of the phone won't be as high as originally expected.
Around 3 million shipments of the iPhone 5S will be pushed back to the fourth quarter of the year, the sources said. During that period, total iPhone shipments (iPhone 4, 4S, 5, and 5S) are projected to hit 30 million.
As always, it's important to note that DigiTimes has a decidedly mixed track record when peering into its crystal ball. So, this information should be served up with a grain of salt.
Rumors have surfaced that Apple would add fingerprint sensors to its next-generation iPhone, but nothing has yet been confirmed. Fingerprint recognition has certainly been on the company's mind. Last year, Apple acquired fingerprint-recognition chipmaker AuthenTec as part of an effort to add 2D fingerprint sensors to its products.