iPhone 8 Release Date: Apple's 10th Anniversary Edition Could Face 'Severe Supply Shortages'

Previous rumors have suggested the iPhone 8’s release date could be delayed. Now, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the 10th anniversary iPhone will launch in September but will face "severe supply shortages" for some time, MacRumors reported.

Kuo predicted mass production of the OLED iPhone 8 will be delayed until October-November, compared to previous August-September timeframes.

Read: iPhone 8 To Have Vertical Dual-Camera, Display-Embedded Fingerprint Sensor, Leaked Dummy Hints

The analyst said the delay "won't undermine actual demand," as long as the iPhone 8 meets fans’ expectations. Most customers will have to wait and will probably get the iPhone 8 during the first quarter of 2018, he added. The report comes after a research note by analyst Brian White last week said Apple will introduce the iPhone 8 and take pre-orders in September, but deliveries might not start until “several weeks later.”

Kuo said the iPhone 8’s rumored features, such as the OLED panel, 3D sensing cameras, 10-nanometer A11 processor, and all-new 3D Touch module, are the reason for Apple’s delay. Meanwhile, a note by analyst Timothy Arcuri of Cowen and Co. said previously Apple was having trouble embedding the Touch ID into the device’s display. Other rumors have suggested problems with the iPhone 8’s 3D-sensing front camera. The iPhone 8 was rumored to have a delayed release date because of the new feature's key components.

Although Apple seems to be having trouble with the iPhone 8’s features, the announcement and launch of the 10th anniversary iPhone and the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus will still happen in September. However, Kuo predicted fans will not be so interested in the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus, which will sport LCD screens.

Read: Leaked iPhone 8 Schematic Reveals Apple Placed Touch ID Sensor Below Logo

The iPhone 8 production delay was labeled by Kuo as a “potential downside risk to shipments” of all three iPhone models expected to be released this year. Another risk comes from competitors Samsung, Huawei, OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi, which are getting ready to release “high-end full-screen smartphones" this year, which could impact sales of the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus because those iPhones "do not have full-screen form factors," Kuo said.

Weighing in both risks, Kuo altered shipping estimates for iPhones. In Apple’s "worst case scenario," iPhone shipments could plummet by 15 to 20 percent. He previously estimated 100 million to 110 million iPhone units shipped, but he now predicts 80 million to 90 million units.

The iPhone 8 is rumored to have a price tag higher than $1,000. Previous rumors suggested the three iPhones will come with True Tone display, and the iPhone 8 will sport a Smart Connector for wireless charging and AR and VR accessories.