Foxconn Explains iPhone 5 Shortage Is Because It’s “The Most Difficult Device” They’ve Ever Assembled

Shortly after its official release to the public, Apple announced that it made record-breaking sales in the first weekend, but still sales fell short from some analysts’ expectations because of supply shortages. So what’s the reason for a supply shortage? The Wall Street Journal spoke to an official at Foxconn who explained his take on the shortage.

According to an unnamed Foxconn official, “The iPhone 5 is the most difficult device that Foxconn has ever assembled. To make it light and thin, the design is very complicated. It takes time to learn how to make this new device. Practice makes perfect. Our productivity has been improving day by day.”

Foxconn has reportedly taken steps to improve productivity while addressing scratches and marks on the metal casings of the new iPhones that were shipped. Foxconn started a new quality check procedure to reduce chances of damage, but the official still noted that the iPhone 5’s coating material makes it much more susceptible to scratching.

The unnamed source also indicated that the riot that recently occurred at a Foxconn plant was related to the metal casing and other “quality issues” with the new iPhone 5. The conflict was reportedly between production-line workers and quality-check personnel, but did not lead to a delay in work.

So in short, the iPhone 5 is just more difficult to make and it’s difficult to make a perfectly unmarked iPhone 5. Hopefully with improved production quality measures Foxconn will be able to produce more unmarked iPhone 5s.

Image Credit: Ars Technica

Kaylie lives in Ottawa and got her first Mac in 2007 and is now a fan for life.