Delayed iPhone 8 2017 Release Date Actually a Good Thing – Here’s Why

By Josef Bell / 1498611324
(Photo : iDropNEWS.com) Leaked render of the all-screen IPhone 8 with OLED display

It has been reported before and the latest update echoes the suggestion Apple will be forced to delay the release date of the iPhone 8. And it's still the same reason - the pushback could be caused by the production difficulties involving OLED panels. It's both a good and bad thing, a new report said.

The reports from Asia, courtesy of Taiwanese publication DigiTimes, indicated ongoing production of the 5.8-inch OLED for the iPhone 8 still suffers from low yields. "Judging from the current supply of OLED panels, it will be difficult for Apple to ship up to 50-60 million OLED-based new iPhones in 2017," the report said.

If the trend continues, it is estimated that come the scheduled September launch of the iPhone 8 Apple can only deliver around four million units, indicating of possible supply shortage for the specific model. It is understood the same issue is not plaguing the iPhone 7S series and the models will be made available to the market without delay and supply constraints.

But the iPhone 8 delayed could turn out to be a good thing for many Apple fans. According to BGR, the production difficulties that Apple is dealing with the OLED panel for the iPhone 8 seem to indicate of a unique display material. The OLED yield issues "might indicate that the iPhone 8 could be just as exciting as we heard," the report said.

And exciting means the device fingerprint sensor will be embedded under the glass display, which if true will be a game-changer for Apple. Another exciting scenario is the addition of sensitive layer that would further enhance the iPhone 3D Touch feature. This improvement will pave the way for Apple to eliminate most of the device's physical control keys, to be replaced by virtual control buttons.

This latest development is in line with the recent forecast issued by KGI Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo - that the iPhone 8 will be hard to find following its September 2017 intro alongside the iPhone 7S series. Kuo said the projected iPhone 8 supply shortage is not expected to normalize until October or November this year.

But if the scenarios mentioned above will play out to the minute details, it looks like the long wait will not be in vain.