Not just JioPhone Next, chip shortage may delay launch of many new phones

Mumbai: JioPhone Next is not the first model whose launch is being affected due to a severe shortage of components and shipping delays. Several top brands are delaying or limiting the launch of some of their products to certain markets due to production issues, besides hiking prices, industry watchers say.

“Some are delaying the launch or launching with a capped production and supply to meet the rising demand for smartphones and other electronics products,” Counterpoint Research analyst and partner Neil Shah said.

The research firm expects the year to end with about 190 launches compared with 207-plus in 2020. There have so far been 103 launches this year. The festival season, which spans from September till December end, is the main sale period both online and offline, accounting for roughly a third of annual sales.