Analysts from the Bank of America today corroborated an earlier report this week from Fast Company which claims development of the iPhone 8 isn’t going to plan. Several of the phone’s new features, including its wireless charging support and rumoured 3D facial scanning system, aren’t working correctly and will not be in a consumer-ready state by September.
“Sense of panic”
Fast Company reported there’s a “sense of panic” inside the company as senior engineers realise their teams won’t be ready in time. Apple’s iPhone release event has been held in September for years. 2017 was shaping up to be the biggest launch yet, marking the tenth anniversary of the iPhone and introducing an all-new design.
Per 9to5Mac, Bank of America analysts Wamsi Mohan and Stefano Pascale said today that they expect a 3-4 week delay on the iPhone 8. Citing conversations with members of Apple’s supply chain, they confirmed that “technological issues” are preventing the company from finalising the phone’s design. Ongoing software troubles are making testing difficult and leaving Apple unable to confirm a launch timeframe.
Features disabled
Well-known Apple analyst and blogger John Gruber claimed earlier this month that the iPhone 8 will not ship with wireless charging enabled. Although the hardware is ready, software bugs mean it’s not suitable for use by the public. Apple will enable the feature in an update later on.
According to Fast Company, Apple’s now planning to use a similar strategy for the front-facing 3D sensor. The company’s “struggling to get the sensor to work reliably,” again due to problems with its software. As with the wireless charging, the sensor will be enabled after launch.
Social media users have reacted to the news that some components might be turned off with varying responses:
Wow, the Apple iPhone 8 may have to drop features that the Samsung Galaxy S8 already has? Not good.#iPhone8Panic
— Harvey F. Davis III (@HarveyFDavisIII) July 12, 2017
Relax Apple, I’m sure the new phone will be great. I’m not sure I’ll be able to afford $1,200 to buy one, though.#iPhone8Panic
— Steven Stiefel ™ (@stevenstiefel) July 12, 2017
Relax #Apple there will be oodles of people lining up to get it. lol #iPhone8Panic July 12, 2017
The advanced facial recognition system was previously rumoured to be taking the reins from Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The company had been planning to put Touch ID under the glass but is widely thought to be struggling with the implementation. The 3D sensor would have offered consumers an alternative but now it looks like it could also be disabled at launch.
Risky launch
The ship-it-later-strategy allows Apple to stay closer to its September launch target. The decision will raise a headache for the company’s marketing team though.
READ NEXT: Apple could abandon Touch ID altogether on the iPhone 8
If the reports prove to be accurate, the iPhone 8 looks set to be finished in a hurry with some of its features missing, disabled or broken. Apple need only look to the competition to identify the risks – the life of the last smartphone that was rushed to market didn’t end well.
