iPhone 5 shipping times shrink to 2-3 weeks
updated 03:46 pm EST, Mon November 12, 2012
Foxconn may still be overcoming manufacturing issues
US shipping times for the iPhone 5 have dropped to between 2 and 3 weeks at the online Apple store, a check shows. Prior to today all models were only listed as shipping in 3 to 4 weeks. It should, however, still be easier to pick up an iPhone 5 through first- and third-party retail stores, which are regularly getting in new shipments.
The relatively modest improvement in online orders suggests that demand is still high and/or that Foxconn is still having trouble manufacturing the device. Foxconn's chairman, Terry Gou, recently admitted that assembling the device is difficult, slowing down production. The phone requires different manufacturing processes than the iPhone 4 and 4S, thanks to elements like diamond-cut edges, a hybrid metal and plastic back, and an even thinner profile.
