Shares in Taiwan’s Apple suppliers have taken a hit from worse than expected sales forecasts for the iPhone 8 and production issues associated with the upcoming iPhone X.
While the iPhone X is expected to sell well, a production constraint related to the phone’s facial recognition function — specifically the challenge of producing in vast numbers the optics used for face-recognition sensors — has put a question mark over near-term shipments.
This has hit the Taiwan companies making those components — specifically, lens makers — according to analysts. Meanwhile, the Taiwan groups that are more exposed to the iPhone 8 are hurt by the expectation the crowds will avoid this handset in favour of the X.