Bloomberg: iPhone 5 'Shortage' a Result of New Ultra-Thin Display [Apple]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5946143/bloomberg-iphone-5-shortage-a-result-of-new-ultra+thin-display

Despite five million units being sold in three days, Bloomberg is claiming that demand for the iPhone 5 has been outstripping supply because of a shortage of the ultra-thin display units used in the new phone.

The new iPhone uses in-cell screen technology, which rolls together the display and touch-sensitive parts of the screen in order to make it thinner. These screens, though, are more labor-intensive to make. Hence the problem.

Originally Apple was using LG Display Co. and Japan Display Inc. to produce the new four-inch screens. To ensure production remained high, though, Apple drafted in the help of Sharp to make more displays.

According to Bloomberg, however, Sharp has been struggling to meet demand. Reports suggest that the company struggled to fix defects in its screens—the knock-on result being delayed shipments of iPhones and less stock to sell on to consumers.

While shortage is perhaps the wrong word to use with 5 million handsets sold over the weekend, no doubt it's a problem Apple would like to solve soon. In the meantime, you can at least now reserve an iPhone 5 for in-store pickup, so at least you won't have to wait in line. [Bloomberg]