Could Battery Quality Concerns Push iPhone 5 Release Date To 2013?
Posted by Michael Nace on Monday Jul 2, 2012 Under Apple News, iPhone 4S Opinion, iPhone 5 RumorA new report out of Asia claims that only 30% of the batteries that Apple has been producing meet Cupertino’s quality standards. Given the high-performance rumored components expected on the iPhone 5, what does this mean for the iPhone 5 release date?
It seems as if every Apple product has one nagging issue to deal with. In 2010, the iPhone 4 suffered from the infamous “antennagate.” And in spite of record sales of the iPhone 4S in 2010-2011, the fifth-generation iPhone dogged with complaints from users about its battery life. Apple sought to rectify the situation through software upgrades to iOS 5, but now it would appear that the battery issues on the iPhone 4S were part of a bigger batter problem plaguing Cupertino.
According to analyst Brian White, of Topeka Capital Markets, Apple is having battery quality issues that are purportedly endemic. TechRadar reports:
“White went on to reveal that just 30% of batteries produced for Apple were meeting the firm’s high standards, which he believes puts the August date in doubt. ‘If there is a battery challenge, we trust that Apple will be able to figure it out in time for a September launch,’ said White.”
The prevailing belief in explaining the 4S’s battery problems had been hardware-related: Apple added in new, higher-performing hardware components, such as the A5 processor, but didn’t upgrade the battery. As a result, the 4Ss battery life could not live up to the same perforce of the lesser-powered iPhone 4. It would now appear that iPhone 4S users with low battery life might in actuality be suffering from defective batteries, instead.
And given the anticipation of an iPhone 5 with an even bigger processor, larger display, LTE, and NFC, the need for a beefy, reliable battery pack on the iPhone 5 is even more critical to its success.
Recent reports have suggested that Apple might be looking to announce the iPhone 5 in September or even August, well ahead of the October iPhone 4S announcement in 2011. However, if White’s report is accurate, some are suggesting that Apple’s need to possibly re-manufacture some 70% of the batteries needed for the iPhone 5 could make the late summer iPhone 5 release date an impossibility, considering the fact that Cupertino could not afford yet another battery disaster on the highly-anticipated sixth-generation iPhone.
My feeling is that this news could be potentially devastating for the iPhone 5 being released in 2012 at all.
Given the fact that the iPhone 5 will be a complete overhaul of the iPhone design, Apple has to get the battery right — they cannot stand pat with the battery technology as they did on the 4S. Since we do not know what the exact nature of these battery problems — are they design issues, or manufacturing issues? — the effect could be major. If Apple has to go back to the drawing board to redesign the battery for the iPhone 5, what would the production delay look like?
If Apple was originally shooting for another early November release, is it hard to imagine that a setback like this could lead to the iPhone 5′s official release being sometime in earl 2013? Last year, we witnessed Apple delay the iPhone 4S’s release well past its usual 12-month lifecycle. Why shouldn’t believe that they would be willing to do it again, and possibly release the iPhone 5 in January or February of 2013?
By Michael Nace
Michael Nace is the Publisher of the iPhone 5 News Blog and iPhone 6 News Blog. He has published articles about the iPhone since 2010.
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July 2nd, 2012 at 10:22 am
If this were to indeed happen the next Iphone had better be the best phone every made.
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July 2nd, 2012 at 10:52 am
If this is the case, what the hell am I supposed to do with my 3GS? I can’t wait until then and with the battery issues with the 4S, why would I want one of those?
Thank you Apple!!
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July 2nd, 2012 at 11:05 am
@John, i sympathize with you wholely. I currently have a 3G(thank God i got it when AT&T had on promo for $97 a few years back)with a cracked screen that i refuse to fix. LOL i’d rather just upgrade to the 5 instead of settling(<–i chose to use the term "settling" because of the battery life issues, i know the phone are great otherwise) for a 4 or 4S but if we do see the 5 pushed back to 2013 i definitely well have to reconsider my position on the two aforementioned iPhone models.
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July 2nd, 2012 at 11:07 am
John, I wouldn’t be concerned about the battery with the 4s – it’s very good. Much better than the GS1 I had prior.
I would be much more concerned with getting the 4s knowing that the IP5 is about to drop. I would be REALLY annoyed to get it, and then 31 days later (past return period with carrier) it was announced.
If the 3gs dies, pick up a used HTC from ebay and wait?
Good luck
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July 2nd, 2012 at 11:34 am
I think this may be a little overreaction. I doubt that Apple expected anywhere near a 100% yield at the beginning of production on a new battery. Of course, 30% is probably lower than expected, but even if this is true this may only be for one vendor where with many (maybe most) parts it seems Apple uses multiple vendors probably for just these reasons. Also, you would expect yields to increase as they tweak their manufacturing process.
Apple has enough clout and purchasing power to add new vendors pretty quickly too. I tend to think the quoted analyst is probably closer to the mark in thinking that if there is any delay from low battery yields we’re talking weeks not months.
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July 2nd, 2012 at 12:07 pm
I too won’t be able to wait past October with my 3G. I will hold on until then, weigh up the pros and cons of the various phones available and make a decision.
I have waited and waited but if the next iPhone doesn’t appear then so long Apple I’m afraid.
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July 2nd, 2012 at 1:07 pm
ok no problem apple, take all the time you want but i’m not waiting until january or february. I’m sorry if ppl don’t agree with me but srsly, i’m not waiting that long for something i know nothing about.
I passed for the 4S (in my eyes the worst iphone iteration ever since there is nothing special about it).
I’m really frustrated with apple right now, they are dropping the ball in my eyes. Maybe it’s because i’m techfreak and i want the best.
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July 2nd, 2012 at 1:50 pm
One of my decisions to buy a new phone will be based on the voice recognition. I know Siri doesn’t work too well here in the UK but there will no doubt be improvements to that in time.
TechnoBuffalo showed a video of their test of Siri on iOS 6 Beta Vs Google’s Search Assistant running on Jellybean. The results are in favour of the Google but we mustn’t forget that Siri is used by gazillions of people and the Google Search by very few as it hasn’t been formally released yet. Apple’s servers will have a greater load than Google’s for this type of search and both phones brought answers in a short time.
The thing I liked most about the Google Search Assistant though is the voice, it sounds so much better than Siri (Siri is a man in the UK) and less robot like.
Here’s the link:
http://www.technobuffalo.com/comparisons/google-search-vs-apples-siri-voice-off-battle/
October, October, October – Get it Apple?
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July 2nd, 2012 at 2:32 pm
I don’t think we’ll have any reason to worry until iOS 6 is released without mention of a new iPhone.
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July 2nd, 2012 at 2:56 pm
It almost seems like the battery could be a cover up for a deeper issue. While a bad battery is definitely a legit problem, it seems that it shouldn’t take months to fix. If every other company is able to pump out millions of batteries that aren’t defective, AND Apple tends to monopolize the market with paying a premium on contracts so that they get exclusive rights to certain components….why is it soooo difficult for Apple to produce a battery without defects? As I said months ago, I think it makes sense for Apple to get the iphone in a routine of releases in the fall (October) and I think that’s what they are trying to make the new normal. My guess is that they are fine tuning the final stages of testing prototypes and about to ramp up production in the next month or two.
Apple will have a new phone out this year. There is no way they will sit back and let a battery stop them from losing millions of sales over the holiday season…especially with much better phones out on the market than the 4S. Apple is scared about the GS3 right now….imagine how much more they will be hurting if they don’t come out with a new iphone for another 6 months. That’s just not going to happen.
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July 2nd, 2012 at 3:23 pm
The only issue I see with a longer release date is that the iphone 5 will come out as a phone that already old…Apple can’t afford that.
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July 2nd, 2012 at 3:27 pm
This is becoming laughable now…
iPhone 5 is coming in June… 2011.
Nope. Just wait a few more months.
iPhone 5 is coming in October… 2011.
Phyche! It’s a 4S! Just wait until ummm…
iPhone 5 is coming in June… 2012!
Nope! It’s the weak we’ve all been waiting for. (misspelling intentional), just wait a few more months…
iPhone 5 is coming in August… 2012…
To be seen…Odds are about 10%
iPhone 5 is coming in October… 2012…
To be seen… Odds are about 35%
iPhone 5 coming in February 2013!
To be seen… Odds are about 25%
I’m starting to think like Tammy Wynette…
Sometimes it’s hard to be an Apple lover…
Giving all you loe to just one Mac… (or iPhone…)
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July 2nd, 2012 at 3:29 pm
err… love, not loe.
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July 2nd, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Breaking News the Iphone 5 comming soon…..March 2013
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July 2nd, 2012 at 3:37 pm
@Jim B… or some month with a vowel in it, and a year with an even number in it.
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July 2nd, 2012 at 4:20 pm
I think that apple can solve the issue of battery in the first iphone they produce .. but if they fix it how will apple sell the other generation of iphone ..
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July 2nd, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Well I’m waiting until January for the iPhone anyways, but everyone else who would like to upgrade in the fall will be pissed. So yes, they better be making a PHENOMENAL iPhone.
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July 2nd, 2012 at 5:34 pm
If its coming out next year, that iPhone better make me cry.
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July 2nd, 2012 at 5:43 pm
Hey I think I should be to tell Siri to start dinner for me on they way home
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July 2nd, 2012 at 5:43 pm
You know, it’s a bit late in the product development cycle to have quality issues with batteries…
You’d think they’d have the battery specs and performance laid out pretty early on.
This isn’t Hell’s Kitchen, where they’re making a phone out of a bunch of ingredients that somebody threw out there. This is engineering, and not kludgery.
I hope…
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July 2nd, 2012 at 7:42 pm
This is really stupid! I’ll just be waiting for the newest iPhone and the newest Galaxy Note and compare them. Whichever I find better, I’ll get. I just found out that Samsung made some software so you can sync your Galaxy device to iTunes. That was my biggest setback. Oh and the reason I’m waiting for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (or whatever) is because I think it’ll get that new LG (or Sharp, I can’t remember) 5″, 1080p, 440ppi display. Oh how I would love that display! I wish they would bake it into the next iPhone, but since it’s 5″ I doubt it.
(This is not an advertisement for Samsung Mobile….. or is it?)
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July 2nd, 2012 at 8:42 pm
Christian, No, it isn’t. If you were to repeat what you just said in a few more articles next week then I’d say yes
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July 2nd, 2012 at 9:21 pm
@Parish, it’s already made me cry several times…
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July 3rd, 2012 at 2:32 am
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July 3rd, 2012 at 2:43 am
As far as battery issues with the iPhone 4S, I’m not seeing it. My 4S’ battery life is very good. Plus you have to remember, the 4S is using a processor made with a 45nm die shrink which is power hungry. I’m willing to bet Apple goes with 32nm for the processor on the iPhone 5, which has 20% improved power efficiency as per an article on Anandtech. If it does have LTE, most likely the LTE antenna will be manufactured using 28nm which is even more power efficient than 32nm. With a bigger screen and smaller dock connector, there’s a good chance there will be more room on the inside for a bigger battery.
It’s too early to get worked up right now. We’ll know when October comes. For those whose contracts are up and are impatient, the 4S is still a very good phone and you’ll probably get a good 2 years of use out of it.
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July 3rd, 2012 at 3:55 am
@undefeatable, I agree, I don’t think apple focuses on the biggest really… they showed that with the iPhone screen size. All they care about is finding the perfect size and then sticking to it and making the other parts of the phone better. I believe if they came out with an Apple TV it’d have to physically look revolutionary, and of coarse introduce an entire line of new features that has never been available before. Personally I think they’d only come out with 2 sizes for their televisions. One size for a small tv, and one size for a large TV. I can’t see them coming out with a medium size, OR one size fits all. I think they will go small and large. I also think they’d introduce a retina display for their television, because one of their biggest selling points is to advertise “you’ve never seen it like this before” or something along the lines of that. They always push for how amazing it looks, so a retina display would be a must. Unless they’re planning on developing a 2nd gen iTV next year to introduce the retina display, but i highly doubt that because people don’t buy TVs that often. TVs are something that you invest in once every 5-8+ years or something. So I think when they come out with a TV there won’t be any upgrades coming next year or the year after that. It’ll have the latest and greatest stuff all at once.
I know I kinda got off topic… you were just talking about screen size only… but I had to expand it haha. I like looking at the whole picture
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July 3rd, 2012 at 10:14 am
@undfeatable, I agree with your stealing premise, but I jailbroke my iPad so I could hook a bluetooth GPS to it (paid for the software to do so… it was $15). It was nice to have Navigon (also paid $75 for that too) on a WiFi iPad.
However, to your stealing point, I wholeheartedly agree. Stealing is stealing.
@Shameer, already worked up. My 3GS is out of contract for 13 months now… (I know, wah wah wah…)
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July 3rd, 2012 at 10:24 pm
@Undfeatable, the Samsung software I heard of just makes it easier to sync your iTunes library to your galaxy device, be it illegally downloaded or bought through the iTunes store. You can buy ANY Android or whatever device that reads AAC and just search the file from iTunes and copy it to it. That is totally legal because if you purchased it on iTunes, you can play it back on any device. It isn’t fair to buy a song from iTunes and only be able to play it on iDevices. I myself believe in buying content because I believe the musician deserves credit for his job and not have to kill himself (herself) doing a billion concerts a year to earn some money. I am a proud iTunes Match customer and a satisfied one at that. If you don’t know what it is (which I don’t think is the case) look it up. I LOVE IT!
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July 4th, 2012 at 9:25 am
I think I missed something? What happened to the site?
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July 4th, 2012 at 9:27 am
Happy 4th July to all commenters in the US!
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July 4th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
@Vernicularis #30! I am glad to live in a land such as this. Happy 4th to all from the Pacific Northwest!
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July 6th, 2012 at 1:29 am
@Jeff so am I! There are some people who don’t like the US following these articles because they thumbed down the Happy July 4ths on another article -.- Why do they care if we are celebrating? Lol. All well… they’re mad and we’re happy as hell hahaha. Not our prob
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July 6th, 2012 at 1:31 am
@Joe #17 I’m with you man, I’d wait for it as well! However long it takes, idc, I’m waiting for the King of Phones to be released. Id feel like I’m wasting my money if I bought anything else
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