Analyst Predicts Delays For iPhone 5S, Low-Cost iPhone, iPad Mini 2

Last week, Ming-chi Kuo of KGI Securities released a report suggesting that three upcoming devices from Apple, the iPhone 5S, iPad Mini 2 and the low-cost iPhone will see a delayed launch, as the company is facing separate production issues for the three devices. 

Now, backing Kuo’s claim, Jefferies analyst Peter Misek, in his separate report suggests that the next couple of quarters could be quite difficult for Apple, as the company is facing a variety of production issues for the upcoming iPhone 5S, low-cost iPhone and the iPad Mini 2.

Misek, who recently visited Asia, says that Apple is facing pre-production issues for the iPhone 5S, and added that the mass production of the upcoming smartphone is at least a month away. He goes on to add that with the delay in iOS 7, a July launch for the iPhone 5 successor is out of the frame. 

Coming to Apple’s upcoming low-cost iPhone, Misek says that it will most probably see a delayed launch as well, and will not surface anytime before the fourth quarter of this year. 

Finally, he says that the next version of Apple iPad Mini will be delayed due to the issues pertaining to the Retina Display. However, he predicts that the iPad Mini 2 will be unveiled later this quarter.

Peter Misek’s comments are perfectly in line with those of Ming-chi Kuo of KGI Securities. Kou in his report had stated that the iPhone 5S is getting delayed due the Fingerprint sensor inside the iPhone 5S , as it is posing a number of technical challenges for Apple. 

Kou blames the same Retina Display issue for the delay in the launch if the iPad Mini 2, which Misek has mentioned in his report.  

As for the low-cost iPhone, Kuo says that Apple is facing issues pertaining to the plastic shell of the device. In a bid to keep the costs down, the low-cost iPhone is rumored to feature a plastic shell, which will be available in different colors and Apple is working quite hard to keep the shell as thin as possible. The coating and surface treatment for such a shell will take up more time, leading to the delay.