A transparent schedule for planning: catalog samples ship in 5–7 days, branded pre-production samples in 10–15 days, and mass production runs 15–40 days by program tier after golden-sample approval. Below is the full timeline we quote against — samples, tooling, pilot, mass production and shipping overlay — including what can extend it and what we can do to compress it.
The clock starts when the sample invoice is settled and all inputs — logo artwork, pantone references, firmware configuration — are in hand. The clock pauses while artwork or approvals are pending on your side.
| Sample type | Lead time | What is built | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock / catalog sample | 5–7 days | Current production SKU, factory configuration, sealed unit | Fit, audio, camera and app evaluation before committing to a program |
| Branded sample | 10–15 days | Catalog unit with your logo marking, custom color master and retail packaging mockup | Marketing photography, retail buyer presentations, golden-sample drafting |
| Custom ODM sample (EVT) | 30–60 days | Custom PCBA or mechanical build, 3D/CNC parts, engineering verification | Validating a co-developed platform before tooling release |
Sample lead time counts preparation only. Express door-to-door shipping via DHL or FedEx adds 3–5 working days to most destinations. Sample fees are charged at 1.5–3 times the mass-production unit price plus freight and are deductible from the first PO — full details are on the sample policy page.
Custom frame parts, hinges, optical windows and packaging molds require precision tooling. From approved 3D files, T0 first articles appear in 20–35 days, depending on cavity count, steel grade and surface finish. T1 samples are dimensionally checked and adjusted; mass-production steel is released only after you sign the golden sample.
Before the main run, a pilot / production validation trial (PVT) of 50–200 units proves the line: SMT yield, assembly cycle time, test fixtures and packing sequence. PVT typically takes 5–7 working days and is where packaging artwork and labeling are validated for the last time, so corrections cost hours instead of a full batch.
Illustrative timeline for a branded OEM program at 1,000–5,000 units on a reference platform. Catalog reorders skip tooling; custom ODM programs extend tooling and certification phases substantially.
Quotation, BOM confirmation, proforma invoice and 30% deposit; artwork and pantone masters collected in parallel.
Logo marking, custom finish and packaging mockup built; units express-shipped for your evaluation.
Mold design, cutting, T0/T1 trials and first-article inspection — 20–35 days, overlapping sample approval.
Sealed golden sample signed; CE/FCC/RoHS testing support completed or confirmed against existing certificates.
50–200 units validate yield, fixtures, firmware build and retail packing before bulk release.
25–35 days of SMT, assembly, aging and AQL inspection with mid-line and final reports.
Export cartons, booking and 1–5 days handling before sea or air transit — see the shipping overlay below.
Dates overlap by design: tooling, certification and artwork run in parallel whenever inputs allow.
Mass-production lead time is counted from deposit clearance and golden-sample approval, not from the first inquiry. Reorders on frozen BOMs are faster because tooling, fixtures and test programs already exist.
| Program tier | MOQ from | Mass-production lead time | Drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalog OEM | 500 units | 15–20 days | Stock platform, logo marking only, existing test fixtures |
| Branded OEM | 1,000 units | 25–35 days | Custom color/finish, branded packaging, firmware configuration |
| Custom ODM | 3,000–5,000 units | 40–60 days after sample approval | New tooling, custom PCBA, certification and reliability cycles |
These are factory lead times under normal component availability. Peak season (August–October for year-end retail) can add queue time, which is why season-aware customers lock POs in June and July. The MOQ for each tier is explained on the MOQ page, and the full production process is described under OEM manufacturing.
Rush-friendliness is mostly about removing unknowns early. The same factory that ships a reorder in three weeks can take three months on a first program when inputs move slowly. These are the four causes behind nearly every schedule slip:
Custom displays, camera modules, specific SoCs and battery cells can carry 8–16 week lead cycles from upstream suppliers. We propose pin-to-pin or stock alternatives during DFM; selecting a catalog platform removes this variable entirely.
CE, FCC, RoHS and REACH testing in your brand name normally takes 2–4 weeks after a passing pre-scan; one failed emission or battery test can add a full re-test cycle. Starting certification during tooling protects the schedule.
Logo vectors, dieline approvals, pantone masters and golden-sample sign-off sit on the critical path. Every week of artwork review adds roughly a week to delivery because printing and pad-print masters cannot start in parallel.
SMT and molding capacity tightens from August through October, and sea-freight space does the same from September. Early POs and rolling forecasts let us reserve lines and book vessels before the queue forms.
Expediting changes cost, never quality: AQL inspection, aging and golden-sample conformance are not shortened to hit a date. Ask your PM for an expedite assessment with the launch date and quantity — the honest answer comes back within one working day.
For a Q4 retail or Amazon peak, the most comfortable schedule places the deposit in May–June, golden sample in July, mass production in August–September and sea arrival in October–November. Spring launches follow the same logic in reverse.
PO and deposit; artwork, packaging and certification inputs locked.
Samples approved and golden sample sealed; tooling released if needed.
Pilot run complete; mass production starts with weekly gate reports.
Goods pass final AQL, ship by sea; documentation released against payment terms.
Holding a rolling forecast with us also buffers common components, shortening reorder cycles toward 15–20 days.
Production ends when goods pass final inspection — then logistics begins. Sea LCL/FCL from Shenzhen Yantian or Shekou typically takes 25–40 days to North America and 30–40 days to Europe; air freight runs 5–10 working days and express courier 3–7. Export documentation, battery paperwork (UN38.3, MSDS) and FBA labeling add 1–5 days of handling that we run in parallel with packing.
Incoterms range from EXW and FOB Shenzhen to CIF and DDP, so your landed-date planning should always quote factory lead time plus transit under the chosen term.
Aging, RF/audio verification and AQL inspection are built into the quoted lead time rather than promised afterward. Every lot completes power-cycle burn-in on controlled racks before packing, and mid-line plus final inspection reports are shared before shipment release — the methodology is documented on the quality control page.
Sample types, fees, refund terms and the DHL evaluation cycle.
Explore02Minimum order quantities for catalog, branded and custom builds.
Explore03Incoterms, transit times, battery paperwork and FBA prep.
Explore04Deposit milestones, tooling fees and accepted payment methods.
Explore05Branding, color, lens, packaging and firmware choices that affect schedule.
ExploreSend the target quantity, customization level and in-market date. Engineering returns a timeline with milestones, risks and expedite options.