Jet black iPhone 7 not available or sold out? Here's why you can't get your hands on it

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Are you desperate for the latest iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus in the sleek new jet black finish? Are you having an infuriatingly difficult time finding one in stores? Well, you're not alone. If the jet black iPhone 7 is sold out or not available, there are a few reasons why. 

Apple has allegedly had trouble manufacturing large quantities of the jet black iPhone, according to Business Insider. The publication claims to have obtained a research note from prominent Apple insider Ming-Chi Kuo, who said the in-demand iPhone model "suffers from a low casing production yield rate of 60-70%."  

This means that for every 100 jet black iPhone casings produced, only 30 to 40 are usable. Apparently it's tough to manufacture the jet black devices, which are easily scratched, at a quality Apple deems acceptable. This has led to an "undersupply," Kuo says.

It doesn't help that "jet black is the most popular choice," according to a KGI Securities pre-order survey, where Kuo works as an analyst, reported Business Insider. The jet black iPhone accounted for a staggering 30-35% of pre-orders worldwide, and almost half of all iPhone 7 pre-orders in China, according to the survey. 

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

If you attempt to purchase a jet black iPhone 7 Plus from Apple's website right now, it won't ship until November. However, the matte black option (which we prefer, for what it's worth) arrives in three to four weeks. There is no word on whether Apple is doing anything to address the lack of jet black availability. Mic has reached out to Apple for comment and will update with any response. 

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