iPhone 12 on track for 2020, but major manufacturer says a delay is possible

iPhone 11 Pro Max
The iPhone 11 Pro Max (Image credit: Future)

Some have speculated that the iPhone 12 may be pushed back thanks to complications caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and now the best source short of Apple confirming a release date has given us an update.

According to Foxconn - the manufacturing company that assembles Apple's iPhone products - the company has lost some time because of Covid-19, but it believes Apple's next device will be ready by the end of the year.

Foxconn has reopened its plants after the Covid-19 outbreak, but it says it lost a month of preparation time thanks to travel restrictions and other issues caused by the pandemic.

The investor relations chief at Foxconn, Alex Yang, shared the update in a private conference call that included reporters for Bloomberg. Yang said, “We and the customer’s engineers are trying to catch up the missing gap, after we lost some days due to travel ban. There’s opportunity and possibility that we might catch up."

Nothing is guaranteed though, with Yang noting, "If there’s a further delay in the next few weeks, months, then you probably have to reconsider launching time. It’s still possible.”

After these statements, Foxconn clarified that it intended the above to relate to all the company's tech clients rather than just one specific product. 

Although that means the comments aren't particularly relating to the iPhone 12 directly, many believe that to be one of the products the company is referencing when it says there may be further delays.

Whether Apple is able to release the iPhone 12 on time will also rely on the company's supply chain. 

That includes hundreds of components being manufactured by a wide variety of companies, and all of them are set to be impacted by coronavirus in one way or another, so there may be further issues ahead for the company.

James Peckham

James is the Editor-in-Chief at Android Police. Previously, he was Senior Phones Editor for TechRadar, and he has covered smartphones and the mobile space for the best part of a decade bringing you news on all the big announcements from top manufacturers making mobile phones and other portable gadgets. James is often testing out and reviewing the latest and greatest mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets, virtual reality headsets, fitness trackers and more. He once fell over.

Latest in iPhone
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max REVIEW
The latest iPhone 17 Pro Max leak may have given us another look at its upcoming redesign
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max REVIEW
New iPhone 17 Air leak may have revealed some key specs – and how it compares to the iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16 Review
Three iPhone 17 model dummy units appear in a hands-on video leak
Apple iPhone 16 Plus Review
iPhone 17 Air leaks suggest it'll get next-gen battery – and offset the 17 Pro Max's weight gains
Two hands holding the Tecno Spark Slim phone
The world’s thinnest phone was just revealed, but a new iPhone 17 Air leak suggests it could be even slimmer
Apple iPhone 16e on blue background
This week's best Apple iPhone 16e deals: where to get the latest iPhone for cheap
Latest in News
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough
Brad Pitt looks over his right shoulder with 'F1' written behind him
Apple Original Films will take you behind-the-scenes of a racing cockpit in this new thrilling F1 movie trailer
AI writer
Coding AI tells developer to write it himself
Reacher looking down at another character from the Prime Video TV series Reacher
Reacher season 3 becomes Prime Video’s biggest returning show thanks to Hollywood’s biggest heavyweight
Finger Presses Orange Button Domain Name Registration on Black Keyboard Background. Closeup View
I visited the world’s first registered .com domain – and you won’t believe what it’s offering today
Image showing detail of the Leica D-Lux 8
Still can't get a Fujifilm X100VI? This premium Leica compact costs less, and it's in stock