Apple Could Launch the iPhone 9 in April Despite COVID-19

Apple is reportedly considering rolling out the new iPhone 9 in April, according to unofficial information.

Previously, it was believed the iPhone 9 was scheduled for late March, but it’s pretty clear at this point that this deadline won’t be met. And the coronavirus outbreak is probably the main reason, as Apple must find a way to bring a new iPhone to the market without sales being impacted massively by the virus.

YouTube Jon Prosser said in a tweet today that Apple confirmed in a briefing that the iPhone 9 will be ready to ship in April, albeit the actual date of the launch isn’t yet decided.

The Cupertino-based tech giant is still looking into its options – worth emphasizing is that a device ready to ship doesn’t necessarily mean it ships the same month; the parent company can hold it back for as long as it wants.

But according to Prosser, Apple actually wants to launch the iPhone 9 next month due to “economical pressures and shareholder obligations.”

Risky game

And it goes without saying that doing this is going to be a risky bet, as most of the world is still in lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak and sales could be significantly impacted. Living proof is none other than Samsung, whose sales of the Galaxy S20 are reportedly well behind the ones recorded by its predecessor, mostly because the virus that keeps everyone at home these days.

If Apple brings the iPhone 9 to the market next month, the company is likely to rely mostly on online sales, although it goes without saying this can have a substantial impact on market performance.

iPhone 9 will be mostly based on iPhone 8, so it’ll use its body, screen, and dimensions. The internals, however, will be upgraded to new-generation hardware, but Apple will stick with an LCD panel, a front-facing home button with integrated Touch ID, and a single camera on the back in an attempt to achieve a $399 price tag.