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Apple has alerted investors and customers about the effects of the recent COVID-19 lockdowns affecting its iPhone 14 assembly plants in China. The company announced in a press release on Sunday that the restrictions would result in limited availability of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models.
“COVID-19 restrictions have temporarily impacted the primary iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max assembly facility located in Zhengzhou, China. The facility is currently operating at significantly reduced capacity,” Apple said. “As we have done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prioritizing the health and safety of the workers in our supply chain.”
China imposed a week-long lockdown in Zhengzhou, China, that affected the industrial park housing Foxconn, Apple’s biggest manufacturer. The restrictions were implemented after the recorded locally transmitted cases went up from 95 to 358 in a day at the beginning of the month. The lockdown will remain in effect through Wednesday, Nov. 9.
In the same press release, Apple confirmed it continues to observe “strong demand” for both the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models. But the lower shipments caused by the recent COVID-19 lockdowns in China will result in longer wait times, especially for new orders.
Currently, new US orders placed through Apple.com for iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max already entail a month-long wait. Most configurations currently have an estimated delivery time between Dec. 8-14, depending on the delivery address.
Apple’s recent announcement also corroborates previous reports that the Pro models have been the most in-demand units among the four-device iPhone 14 series. Apple has not mentioned updates about the baseline iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus productions. But an earlier report claimed that the tech giant asked its suppliers to “immediately halt” production activities for parts that are intended for the iPhone 14 Plus.
The iPhone 14 Pro models are equipped with more upgrades, including the new A16 Bionic chip, while the regular iPhone 14 Pro models still include the A15 processor released last year. The Pro models also exclusively feature an always-on display, the pill-shaped cutout and Dynamic Island, and a 48MP main camera.
Photo by James Yarema on Unsplash
