The production of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max has been seriously affected due to the troubles in Apple’s biggest factory (Foxconn factory) in China. In fact, there are reports that Apple’s end of year sales will be greatly affected because of low supply. This period is usually a good sales period for Apple. Hon Hai Foxconn, a brand partner of Apple is in charge of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.  According to Reuters, Foxconn expects its main iPhone factory to resume full production around the end of December or early January. According to the progress of the situation, it currently takes about 3 to 4 weeks to resume production. The company also claims that it is gradually “returning production capacity to normal levels.”
Foxconn assembles about 70% of the iPhones Apple sells. However, its production may have fallen by 30% due to supply disruptions. Currently, Foxconn’s iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models are severely affected. Apple is struggling to maintain supply, with iPhone 14 Pro models currently facing at least four-week delays in shipments from Apple’s online store in the US. At the moment, online stores in China are facing a 4 – 5 week delivery delay.
Analyst reports show that in the 13th week after the release of the iPhone 14 series, the global delivery time of the iPhone 14 Pro series has been shortened from 35 days in the previous week to 29 days. However, the shipment time of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus remains at 3 days. These two models are not as attractive as the Pro models. The shortened global delivery time of the iPhone 14 Pro series means that delivery times in major markets around the world have also improved significantly.
iPhone 14 Pro series production capacity is improving
Apart from the troubles at the Foxconn factory in China, the pandemic is still affecting Apple. The production of the iPhone 14 Pro series is yet to return to normal levels. Thus, deliveries of the new Pro iPhones are delayed. The delivery time of the iPhone 14 Pro series is also longer than the same period in previous generations. Analysts are now looking at week by week capacity of iPhone production. Relative to the previous week, analysts say that the iPhone 14 Pro series production capacity is better.
In the US market, the delivery time of the Pro series has been shortened to 25 days. This is a decent increase from the previous week were delivery time was 33 days. In the Chinese market, the delivery time for the previous week was 43 days. This week, the delivery time now reduces to 39 days. In the German market, the delivery time for the new Pro iPhones last week was 32 days. For this week, the delivery time shortens to 25 days. In the U.K. market, the situation is also the same. The initial delivery time last week was 33 days. For this week, the delivery time for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max is 27 days.
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iPhone 14 Pro series production is still struggling
In the above four major markets, the delivery time of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus is shorter. The sales of the lower iPhone 14 series models are also more stable than that of the Pro series. The US market is stable at 4 days, and the Chinese market reduces from 2 days to 1 day. The UK market reduces from 4 days to 3 days. The analyst said in the report that compared with the iPhone 13 series in the same period, the delivery time of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus is basically the same. However, the delivery time of the latest iPhone Pro series is longer.
Obviously, the new iPhones are facing a situation. The production capacity of the iPhone 14 Pro series is better. Also, the delivery time of the new iPhones is also reduced. However, analysts claim that the current delivery time is still longer than before the Foxconn factory had pandemic issues. Thus, the new iPhone production is yet to reach its regular normal levels.
iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max supply will reduce by 6 million units this year
Back in November, there were reports that the Pro series production will largely reduce. Due to factors such as supply disruptions at Foxconn factories, there may be a reduction in the production of 6 million Pro series in 2022. The Pro series is currently Apple’s most-demanded model. However, the company is struggling to ship them. The supply of iPhone 14 Pro models has also seen new variables as production continues to be severely affected.
According to a Bloomberg report, an insider familiar with the Foxconn factory said that Apple may be producing nearly 6 million fewer iPhones than expected. That number could improve as the situation changes. This to a large extent depends on how quickly Foxconn can resume normal operations. Sources say Foxconn factories need at least 100,000 workers to get production back on track.
Apple said in early November that demand for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models remains strong. However, due to reduced supply chain capacity, shipments of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are expected to be lower than previously expected. This also means that potential buyers of this device will have to wait longer to receive new products.
Situation at Foxconn
Due to pressure from Apple and COVID-19, Foxconn recently hired around 100,000 new employees. This new recruitment comes after thousands had panicked after a COVID outbreak among staff in October. Some of the staff point out that they were recruited by Foxconn under false promises. For this reason, there has been a breakdown of law and order at the factor. The Chinese government placed stringent COVID-19 restrictions. Due to the strict restrictions, Foxconn had to stop workers from leaving the factory environment. However, the conditions of living in the factory are not decent.
