Apple warns of iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max supply issues
Strict covid restrictions in China are causing 'longer wait times' for iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models
➡️ The Shortcut Skinny: iPhone supply issues
😰 Apple says iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max shipments will be lower than expected
😷 Covid-19 restrictions have impacted the primary iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone Pro Max assembly facility
🏭 The factory is currently operating at a “significantly reduced capacity”
👷♂️ Apple is working “closely with our supplier to return to normal production levels”
Apple has warned that customers will experience “longer wait times” to receive iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone Pro Max orders.
The Cupertino, California-based company issued a press release that states the impact of recent Covid-19 restrictions in China has “temporarily impacted the primary iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max assembly facility located in Zhengzhou, China.”
Apple says that its main facility is “currently operating at significantly reduced capacity”, and said that it now expects lower iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max shipments than it previously anticipated.
As a result, this could mean you’re waiting longer for Apple’s new flagship phones to arrive if you haven’t upgraded to the new models already.
Apple says its “working closely with our supplier to return to normal production levels while ensuring the health and safety of every worker”.
China’s zero Covid policy continues to have a seismic impact on the technology industry, and it appears that the disruption that arose during the first few years of the pandemic hasn’t gone away yet.
Some companies have moved production away from China to combat this, including Apple. India began making the base iPhone 14 model in September, and US President Joe Biden recently signed off the CHIPS Act that aims to boost semiconductor production in the United States and should prevent another global chip shortage.
Could this affect PS5 stock?
Gamers will be hoping Apple’s supply issues don’t carry over to Sony’s PS5 production, which continues to be hampered by supply. Finding a PS5 restock has gotten easier, but you’d be lucky to find a PS5 sitting on store shelves. Sony has also been prioritizing bundles as opposed to selling the console as a standalone option.
With the PSVR 2 set to launch on February 22, 2023, there’s a real chance that Sony’s next-gen headset could hit the same roadblocks. Sony is apparently aiming to make two million PSVR 2 headsets by early next year, which should at least placate the initial demand.
It took eight months for the original PSVR to sell one million units, but with the PSVR 2 priced at $549.99 – which is more than the console itself – it’ll be interesting to see how fast adoption is for Sony’s second foray into the virtual reality market.
If you’re already onboard with PSVR 2, the PSVR 2 pre-order date is November 15 and we’ve rounded up the full list of confirmed PSVR 2 games. You can register for pre-order now on Sony’s website, but if you sign up for The Shortcut and follow Matt Swider on Twitter and turn on notifications you’ll get an alert as soon as pre-orders go live.