Tech

Here's why you're going to be waiting weeks for your jet black iPhone 7

If you really must have a jet black iPhone 7, then you better be patient because you're going to be waiting weeks for it

Written by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Senior Contributing Editor Sept. 26, 2016 at 8:25 a.m. PT

If you've just recently ordered a jet black iPhone 7 then you'll undoubtedly have noticed something -- you're going to have to wait for weeks before it's actually in your sweaty hands.

So why is Apple making you wait for weeks? The answer, apparently, comes down to quality control.

According to a note sent out to clients by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the failure rate for the jet black finish cases is high, with yields down the in the 60 to 70 percent region. This means that a lot of cases are being rejected because they don't meet Apple's exacting standards.

Another factor is high demand, with a KGI pre-order survey suggesting that the jet black finish was the most popular, accounting for about a third of all sales worldwide, and almost half of all sales in China.

"The survey offers an insight into iPhone buyers' tendency to choose models that are aesthetically different from the 6S. Popularity of the jet black version indicates that consumers prefer an alternative to the traditional metal finish," wrote Kuo.

KGI Securities has increased its sales estimate for the iPhone 7 from 65 million to between 70 million and 75 million, which is an improvement over what analysts have been previously predicting, but still lower that sales of the iPhone 6s saw last year.

The jet black finish is also prone to scratching, which could also mean that Apple will find itself having to replace handsets that are prematurely showing signs of wear. In fact, the finish is so delicate that Apple is suggesting that owners put their jet black iPhone 7 handsets into cases to protect them from scuffing.