The upcoming Christmas may not be so merry for shoppers who want to get themselves or their loved ones the new iPhone 14 models, according to Mac Rumors.
The root of this supply issue still traces to Apple's manufacturing facility in Zhengzhou, China facing hampered production due to stringent COVID-19 lockdowns.
Lower iPhone 14 Pro Shipments
Apple said that they are still recording strong demand for iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models. However, they are still unable to meet all of these demands.
"We now expect lower iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max shipments than we previously anticipated and customers will experience longer wait times to receive their new products," Apple said in a press release last month.
The company added that they are working closely with its supplier to regain its normal production levels without compromising the health and safety of its workers.
And one month later, it appears that the supply of the iPhone 14 Pro remains constrained. However, wait times for the iPhone 14 models have significantly improved from six weeks last month to three weeks this December.
Even though things seem to be getting better, buyers who want the iPhone 14 Pro by the holidays may only get their hands on it after the holidays due to the three-week waiting period.
On the bright side, several Apple products are still up for grabs such as AirPods, Macs, iPads, earlier iPhone models, and more for shoppers who wish to gift their loved ones an Apple gadget.
For instance, Apple's web shop states that the entry-level iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, the new 10th-generation iPad, Macs, Apple Watch, HomePod Mini, and the third-generation AirPods and AirPods Pro can be delivered to customers in just a few days.
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A Gloomy Black Friday
The shortages in iPhone 14 Pro did not spare Black Friday shoppers last month as well as they left Apple Stores disappointed for not getting their hands on the new Apple smartphone.
According to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, Apple Stores had iPhone 14 Pro shortages in terms of color or model and storage of more than 25%-30% below normal heading into the holiday season.
Ives noted that this was not a good sign for the Cupertino-based tech giant, which usually experiences increased revenues during the holidays.
The analyst predicts that Apple will log 8 million sales for its iPhones this year, which will be a significant decrease from the 10 million phones sold on Black Friday weekend in 2021. Ives noted that this is all driven by supply chain issues.