Apple targets production of 90m iPhones this year 

The next iPhones will be Apple’s second with 5G, a key enticement pushing users to upgrade

Apple chief executive Tim Cook with the iPhone 12. The upgraded forecast for 2021 would suggest the company anticipates its first iPhone launch since the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines will unlock additional demand.

Apple has asked suppliers to build as many as 90m next-generation iPhones this year, a sharp increase on its 2020 iPhone shipments.

The tech giant has maintained a consistent level in recent years of roughly 75m units for the initial run from a device’s launch to the end of the year.