Taiwan PCB supply chain partners for Apple devices will be closely observing the first wave of sales performance for iPhone 11 series, which will directly affect their shipments in the fourth quarter of 2019, according to industry sources.
Apple still shows significant shipment pull-in momentum in the ongoing peak season, but Taiwan-based flexible board suppliers Zhen Ding Technology (ZDT) and Flexium Interconnect can only manage to maintain flat revenue performances in the third quarter as product quotes can hardly pick up due to limited specs upgrades, the sources said, adding that iPhone mainboard suppliers Unimicron and Compeq will see revenue performances less affected thanks to their lower ratios of revenues from Apple.
Among the new series, iPhone 11 increases the use of modified polyimide (MPI) as material for flexible antenna boards, which will better benefit Flexium than ZDT as the former focuses more on MPI boards than the latter.
The iPhone 11 Pro sees major hardware upgrades with a triple-camera system, requiring the use of larger flexible boards and higher-end board materials, which is good news for flexible PCB suppliers.
Market watchers show mixed views about sales prospects for iPhone 11 Pro. Some said consumers would be less willing to purchase the model due to their high expectations for 5G iPhones in 2020. But some opined that the triple-camera system alone would stimulate sales, given that 5G functions will remain limited due to lack of 5G infrastructures in many countries.
Most observers are optimistic about sales outlook for iPhone 11 with a dual-camera thanks to friendly pricing. But for PCB makers, insignificant specs upgrades for the model will be unable to significantly boost their revenues.
Article translated by Willis Ke
