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Recently, Nikkei Asia reported that at least one iPhone 14 model is said to be three weeks behind schedule due to Apple’s supply chain restrictions in China. However, it was not known which iPhone 14 model the rumor refers to. Now analyst Jeff Pu explains that this is supposed to be the iPhone 14 Max.
Lockdowns affect product development
Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu explains that the iPhone 14 Max delay is largely due to Apple’s contract manufacturer Pegatron shutting down production during the recent lockdown in Shanghai. The iPhone 14 Max is not expected to go into mass production until late August, likely just a few weeks before the new iPhone lineup is unveiled at an Apple event in September.
According to Nikkei Asia sources, all four iPhone 14 models are currently in the EVT (Engineering Verification Test) stage of development. Typically, all new iPhone models complete the EVT phase and move into the verification phase by the end of June. After the development phase of the new iPhones, Apple’s main assemblers Foxconn and Pegatron enter a phase known as “New Product Introduction” (NPI). The manufacturing process is defined here. The NPI is followed by several verification processes before mass production begins.
The iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are slated to go into mass production in early August, weeks ahead of the iPhone 14 Max, according to Pu. It’s unclear if the delay will result in the iPhone 14 Max being later than the other iPhones 14 models will be delivered or whether the availability at the market launch will be severely restricted.
As MacRumors Apple has instructed suppliers to accelerate product development to make up for lost time before the delay impacts the typical production schedule. Meanwhile, the renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is convinced that Apple can make up for the delay and thus keep availability within the usual range. As he writes on Twitter:
“My latest sales channel reviews indicate that Apple has not changed the delivery schedule for the iPhone 14 models since the lockdown in Shanghai. While the iPhone 14 Max is lagging behind, it is still under control for now as suppliers are able to work overtime to meet the schedule.”
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My latest channel checks suggest that Apple has not changed the shipping plan for the iPhone 14 models since the Shanghai lockdown. iPhone 14 Max is running behind, but it’s still under control currently, and suppliers can work overtime to catch up with the schedule.— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 26, 2022
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