iPhone 7 Production Again Confirmed to be Underway, Suppliers Anticipating a September 2016 Release

Just yesterday, we reported that production of Apple’s ‘iPhone 7’ handset(s) is currently underway — roughly a month or so ahead of the usual iPhone manufacturing season, which typically begins within the first week or two of July.

And today, according to a new report that was recently published on the Taiwanese Economic Daily News website, primary iPhone suppliers Pegatron, Foxconn, and the lesser known supplier, Wistron, have begun their annual, iPhone manufacturing season hiring spree — only this year, citing that the forthcoming handset will be “much more complex,” the Chinese and Taiwanese companies have reportedly been hiring many more workers than is usually necessary.

The report noted, as we mentioned, that the usual iPhone manufacturing season tends to kick off around the first of second week of July. However, due to the intricacy and complexity of Apple’s forthcoming iPhone’s design and internal component structure, all three of the Cupertino-company’s suppliers deemed it necessary to hire early, and hire as many workers as possible. These new hires, according to the report, will primarily be assembly line workers who participate in the placement, sealing, wiring, and other delicate activities involved in the iPhone’s production.

Additionally, a separate report from DigiTimes has indicated that — as a means of reducing any supply constraints — Apple has diversified production, specifically in recent years, so that each of its manufacturers are dedicated to producing a particular variant of the handset. For instance, the DigiTimes report alleges that Pegatron and Foxconn’s Hon Hai Precision Industry has been tasked with manufacturing the smaller, 4.7-inch ‘iPhone 7’; whereas, the 5.5-inch ‘iPhone 7 Plus’ will be manufactured exclusively by Wistron and Foxconn.

Although, historically speaking, DigiTimes has proven itself to be a bit of a mixed bag — insofar as their track record on reports like these is pertinent, Tuesday’s report also alleges that the big three iPhone manufacturers are gearing up for a Q3 launch, as well as expectedly high demand of Apple’s forthcoming flagship handsets.

This tidbit, for it’s part, sounds like it could definitely be true — of course, barring any complications or limitations in the supply chain. Apple has, historically speaking — ever since the release of the company’s iPhone 5 back on September 21, 2012 — released new iPhone handsets at the end of September of each year. Last year, for instance, Apple’s iPhone 6s handset was released to the public on September 25th.

So far, a swath of reports have hinted that the ‘iPhone 7’ will feature a considerably thinner structure — perhaps even ditching the legacy 3.5mm headphone jack, even though the physical design itself will reportedly remain relatively unchanged from the current iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Other reports, though they tend to conflict more often then they agree, allege that Apple’s forthcoming handset will feature either a Plus or Pro variant — perhaps boasting dual camera lenses, and even 3 GB of RAM.

Of course, with an expected launch pegged for the end of September, 2016, it certainly won’t be that long until we find out the truth — and, of course, until all those excited iPhone fans can get their hands on Apple’s latest and greatest slab of goodness.

Will you be picking up an iPhone 7, 7 Plus, or 7 Pro this fall? Let us know in the comments.

Featured Photo: Tuixem

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]