Boring or not, the iPhone 7 looks like it will be in short supply

Despite the prospect of a maintenance release ahead of a larger overhaul next year, it may still be hard to come by an iPhone 7 when the device arrives on shelves next month.

According to a report from Nikkei, Apple is dealing with supply shortages caused by faulty components.

While we don’t know which portion of the hardware may be causing the issue, it could mean limited quantities of the handset during the initial roll-out phases.

Related: The iPhone 7 could kill Apple’s most restrictive feature

“If Apple sticks to its launch schedule from last year, there may not be enough supply at the beginning, as some suppliers are still trying to fix low yield rates of their components,” an industry source told the publication.

At a time when Apple is already seeing a fall in growth of iPhone sales, such a shortage would be extremely unwelcome.

The new-generation handsets are expected to be announced on September 7, ahead of a release later that month.

While there’s usually high demand in those opening few weeks, that could be accentuated if there are fewer iPhones to go around.

The report suggested Apple’s orders for processors may drop 15 per cent, while display panels may be down 20 per cent as the company adjusts to slowing iPhone sales.

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