Apple has cut orders for the iPhone 4S, according to SlashGear, following suggestions that consumer demand is slowing down in key countries.

According to sources at Apple manufacturing partners cited by Chinese business site Commercial Times, the tech giant has slashed orders for the last quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of next year due to slackening sales in Europe and North America.

iPad 2 orders have also been lowered, apparently due to “short-term market saturation”.

Total orders across both product lines are down by approximately 15% as a result of the cuts, SlashGear claims.

News of the move conflicts with other stories indicating high demand for the new iPhone, despite substantial battery life and call quality problems.