Apple, as you know, is not yet able to fully satisfy the demand for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max – the shortage of Pro models arose almost immediately after the start of sales, and the waiting time for new orders increased to 4-5 weeks. And it is better not to wait for shifts in the near future; Moreover, Apple warns of an increase in the lead time for new orders for the iPhone 14 and Max 14 due to the forced reduction in the volume of these models.
The reason is quarantine restrictions due to the spread of COVID-19 in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou, where the iPhone production plant is located. The plant is currently operating at a “significantly reduced capacity”.
Apple noted that demand for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max is still at a high level and at the same time warned that due to lower shipments, customers will have to wait longer for their smartphones.
In Ukraine, the supply of iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max remains limited (the availability of colors and memory options varies by seller), and prices are significantly higher than those that were at the beginning of sales . So, for example, the 128 GB iPhone 14 Pro is now offered at a price of ₴ 56,959 (against ₴52,499 at the start), and the 256 GB iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at ₴ 67,999 against ₴ 62,499 at the start of sales.
According to Bloomberg, Apple has reduced its production plan for the iPhone 14 by 3 million – now the company expects to ship 87 million smartphones to the market by the end of 2022, while it originally planned to sell at least 90 million.
In October, Reuters reported that iPhone production could fall by at least 30% due to tight quarantine restrictions due to the spread of COVID-19 at Foxconn’s Chinese factories responsible for the production of new models of Apple smartphones. At the same time, The New York Times noted that due to a new outbreak of coronavirus infection, 200,000 Foxconn workers were quarantined at the plant with limited provisions. In the end, this led to a massive exodus of workers.
In response to continuous COVID-19 lockdowns in China, Apple has begun moving production to other countries – in September, the company began producing the base iPhone 14 model in India.
Apple starts production of iPhone 14 in India