Apple hiring second Apple Watch Series 4 manufacturer following ‘Much Better than Expected’ demand
Apple is apparently looking to take on a second manufacturer to produce the Apple Watch Series 4 according to reports from industry sources who claim Apple’s current sole supplier, Quanta Computer has hit maximum production capacity following “much better than expected demand” for the latest models.
Speaking within a research note published on Wednesday, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo estimates Apple will sell between 18 million and 19.5 million Apple Watch units during 2018.
DigiTimes has reported that Apple’s newly appointed second supplier, Compal will produce models of both the Apple Watch Series 3 and new Apple Watch Series 4.
With Quanta Computer’s capacity for the Apple Watch Series 4 at its factory in Changshu, eastern China fully loaded, the wearable’s second supplier Compal Electronics reportedly will begin mass production of the smartwatch in November 2018, according to industry sources.
Shortly after pre-orders kicked off alongside the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max earlier in the month, shipping estimates for the new Apple Watch Series 4 quickly slipped back to between late September and mid-October, with Apple contacting a select number of customers to inform them of possible further delays to their orders.