Apple said to place battery orders for iPhone 6
Company is preparing to begin production of the iPhone 6 with orders going out to battery makers, a report from Asia claims.
Apple is priming the Asia-based supply chain for production of its next-generation smartphone, according to a report from Digitimes.
Simplo Technology and Desay Battery Technology have received orders related to the future iPhone, according to a report Wednesday from the Taiwan-based media outlet, citing sources.
The report also indicated that "mass production" of the phone has yet to begin, signaling possibly that it may arrive later rather than sooner.
On Monday, UBS analyst Steve Milunovich said that his checks with the chain of suppliers suggest that the iPhone 6 is most likely to arrive in August or September -- rather than June.
Reiterating past rumors, Milunovich said a model with a 4.7-inch screen is "certain" while a larger model with a 5.5-inch display "may or may not launch" at the same time.
Analyst Andy Hargreaves of Pacific Crest also said this week that the iPhone 6 is likely a Q3 story.
"For the first time, our checks indicated volume component orders for iPhone 6. We expect significant component orders to begin in July, which is consistent with public availability of the device in late September or October," he wrote in a research note Monday.