Does the iPhone 14 Supply Squeeze Mean You Won’t Get One for the Holidays?

If you want an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max this Christmas, you should stop reading and order it now.

apple is Can’t make enough iPhones At its assembly plant in Zhengzhou, China due to the COVID lockdown. While Apple has been expanding its manufacturing operations to other countries over the past few years, the unprecedented announcement shows just how reliant the world’s largest company is on China.

“One reason for the shortage is that Apple is producing fewer iPhones in China. The country’s zero-coronavirus policy has led to a drop in iPhone production, and other factors may also have an impact. For example, some suppliers are still not ready to produce high-quality iPhones.” Jaylen VangelsTechnology company managing director Lifi.cotold Lifewire via email.

China problem

Apple’s problems in China are twofold. One is that it makes almost everything there. Some Macs are made in the US, some iPhones are made in India and Vietnam, but these are tiny start-ups compared to China. When we say “China” we really mean one company, Foxconn. It’s a classic case of putting all your eggs in one basket, and while the Chinese supply chain has historically been strong, capable of making millions of iPhones, in recent years we’ve seen this start to falter.

the other is China is also a huge market for the iPhone. This doesn’t appear to affect supply, but it does mean that Apple has to be careful about moving production abroad. Apple is a prestigious brand, and the fact that iPhones are made in China is a good reflection of the country and its government. If Apple moves too fast to leave, there could be repercussions, and who knows what it will be? It can even ban the sale of anything in China.

“The real problem here is that Apple is moving their manufacturing base to other countries, but they’re not there yet. That means they haven’t invested much in maintaining their existing suppliers, but haven’t responded to more diversification. the benefits of a supplier base,” Adam RossichMaterial Manufacturing Company CEO full shield, told Lifewire via email. ”

zero tolerance

This reliance on so few manufacturers makes Apple vulnerable to disruption. And now, Foxconn is in the midst of a COVID lockdown. Unlike the rest of the world, which has largely lifted lockdowns and weathered the pandemic with a vaccine and some resignation, China is still implementing its zero-coronavirus policy. This means a hard blockade whenever an outbreak occurs.

This is what is happening at the Zhengzhou factory right now.Staff exodus compounds the problem, they Escaped the facility Rather than endure the lockdown, and the increased likelihood of infection it brings them.

iPhone Christmas

So far, Apple’s supply issues have only affected the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models. If you want a regular iPhone 14, getting one in time for the holidays won’t be more of a hassle than usual.

However, According to reports, the iPhone 14 is not selling well. Apple already cut production shortly after its launch in October.Meanwhile, iPhone 14 Pro sales were much better than expected.

That’s almost certainly because the new iPhone 14 Pro features a stunning new 48-megapixel camera, an always-on screen, and an exciting new Dynamic Island. Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 is actually an iPhone 13 with a different name. It has the same chip as last year’s iPhone Pro, and you can’t even buy a premium mini anymore (though there’s now a Max-sized version of the regular iPhone 14).

Currently, all iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max models have a 4-5 week lead time, so if you get your hands on it now, you can get your phone in time for Christmas as long as there are no other issues.

If you want to buy one for yourself soon, you have a few options. One is to pay close attention to third-party resellers such as Amazon. If you live near an Apple Store, another option is to check your local store every morning for an in-stock model. You may have to choose a different color and storage configuration than your usual favorite, but the popular base models tend to arrive more often.

Another option is to not bother with a new phone. Or get an iPhone 13, still great.