The iPhone 5s was launched to intense demand back in September. Apple quickly sold out of its initial launch inventory and then shipping times slipped down to a couple of weeks. Almost a couple of months after launch, shipping times have now started to improve, estimates range between 3-5 business days on Apple’s online store. Recent checks of 60 Apple Retail Stores in the U.S. revealed that 90 percent of the stores now have iPhone 5s in stock, plus Apple has now also started selling the SIM-free unlocked variant through its stores. Much of this is due to the fact that Apple has ordered Foxconn to boost production, the Wall Street Journal reports that 300,000 workers at Foxconn are now producing half a million (500,000) iPhone 5s units every single day.
The report cites a Foxconn executive who reveals that the manufacturer is now running 100 individual production lines around the clock. Foxconn is now at its maximum output capacity of 500,000 units per day. Nearly 600 workers man the individual production lines as opposed to 500 per line for iPhone 5c and iPhone 5 as assembly procedure for those smartphones is less complicated. Even though there’s consistent demand, Foxconn is reportedly reluctant to expand its output capacity as there have been rumors that Apple might tap other manufacturers like Pegatron and Wistron to build iPhones next year. As of now, Foxconn generates 40 percent of its revenue from Apple.