Apple has reportedly cut orders for iPhone 5 components, specifically screens for the device, which could be an indicator that sales of the company’s latest smartphone are dropping off sooner than expected.

Unnamed sources, speaking to the Wall Street Journal, claim that Apple last month trimmed its orders for displays for the iPhone 5, cutting the number ordered down to roughly half of the original amount.The reduced number of screens are apparently destined for the phones sold over the January to March 2013 quarter.

One of the sources has also claimed that Apple has reduced orders for other components as well.

Apple has been facing stiffer competition from other manufacturers and the apparent slowdown in sales, if correct, may be due to more attractive alternatives from other quarters.

Source: CNET