by It’s human nature to panic buy, and even more so these days, given what store shelves looked like for the first half of 2020. But right now, there’s no reason to worry. worry about a shortage of iPhones and iPads, despite new Covid restrictions affecting manufacturers in China.
Concerns have been raised as a major iPhone maker has temporarily halted production at two of its Shanghai factories following stricter Covid rules in China (as reported by the BBC).
Factories producing MacBooks and iPads have also been affected by changing lockdown rules in Shanghai (local lockdowns are actually easing, but the Chinese government has introduced new measures that affect factories).
But while production of Apple gadgets will be affected by these changes, you don’t need to panic about buying a new iPhone or iPad just yet — here’s why.
Production is not the same as availability
In the complex and chaotic world we call home, there is rarely a truly direct correlation between cause and effect. And just because fewer iPhones are being made doesn’t mean fewer will go on sale.
This is something a reliable Apple analyst actually discussed a few days ago when it emerged that Shanghai factories were shutting down production.
Ming Chi Kuowhich we hear a lot about in the world of Apple rumors, says iPhone production won’t properly start again until late April or early May, which sounds worrying – but that doesn’t matter.
Shanghai lockdown does not affect iPhone SE production. However, the demand for new iPhone SEs is lower than expected (the “in stock” delivery status as one of the proofs), and I have reduced my shipping estimate in 2022 to 15-20M (vs. 25 -30M previously).March 28, 2022
In the tweet above, Kuo pointed out that demand for the new iPhone SE (2022) is far below expectations – the analyst himself cut his sales forecast by 10 million, a third of what was foreseen.
So, the unpopularity of the new iPhone SE means there are plenty waiting to be bought.
Apple’s supply chain
(1/4) China’s COVID-19 lockdown is starting to affect iPhone assembly. Pegatron, the 2nd largest iPhone EMS, has already stopped assembly in Shanghai and Kunshan. In the best-case scenario, the full resumption of production may not be possible before the end of April or the beginning of May. https://t.co/KRviniJohqApril 11, 2022
As one of the biggest technology companies in the world, especially in the hardware sector, Apple has a massive supply chain.
This means he’s more likely to be affected by various world events, but it also means he has plenty of contingency plans in case something goes wrong.
As Kuo put it in another tweet, “Apple has the best supply chain management capabilities,” and the analyst pointed out that “Foxconn, largest iPhone EMS [electronic manufacturing service] has not been affected and can partially fill the short-term supply gap.” In this case, Kuo says, iPhone supply will be “short-term and limited.”
Of course, it’s impossible to look far into the future to see what iPhone supply will look like a few months from now, and Kuo says the second half of the year could see more supply issues if production doesn’t. not resume soon enough. .
But if you’re thinking of buying an iPhone or iPad in a panic, you should keep in mind that the possibilities and potential problems are not set in stone. You don’t want to rush to your local Apple store to buy an iPhone, only to see them readily available later in the year (or even discounted for Amazon Prime Day).
In the near future, iPhones will still adorn store shelves. And if there’s more of an impact later in the year, you’ll get fair warning – though it might convince you that instead of buying a new phone, you should check out our iPhone tips and tricks to fire a little more profit from your old device.
