iPhone 14 Pro shortage likely as China announces lockdown around largest plant: Report

iPhone production could be hit as much as 30 percent as Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant is locked down.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Fresh China lockdowns may impact iPhone 14’s production.
• The lockdown will last till November 9th, but it may further disrupt the Foxconn facility’s main operations base.
• Foxconn’s Zhengzhou factory handles 80 per cent of the iPhone 14 series’ production capacity, including 85 percent of iPhone 14 Pro.

Following a fresh COVID-19-induced lockdown in and around Zhengzhou, an iPhone shortage is likely in the coming weeks with iPhone 14 Pro being most affected. The government has ordered a fresh seven-day lockdown till November 9th around Apple manufacturer Foxconn’s largest plant, with more than 85 percent of iPhone 14 Pro capacity based there. The notice came after Zhengzhou’s COVID-19 cases jumped to 359 on Tuesday, up from 95 the day before.

A report by Reuters stated the development, with an unidentified source quoting that Foxconn was looking to boost production at another facility in Shenzhen.

iPhone production hit at largest plant

The potential production impact comes when electronics giants are often busy before the year-end holiday season, which is also a busy period for Apple. iPhone production is expected to be hit as much as 30 percent.

According to market research firm Counterpoint, 80 per cent of the recently launched iPhone 14 series’ production capacity, including more than 85 per cent of the iPhone 14 Pro’s, is handled by Foxconn’s Zhengzhou factory.

As per reports, no vehicles will be allowed to operate except for those carrying necessities during this fresh lockdown around the area. The plant employs close to around 2 lakh people, and social media was abuzz with pictures and videos of workers climbing over walls and trekking across the plant to flee. China allows factories to operate under a closed loop system in case of lockdowns, wherein workers are supposed to reside on-site and work.

Apple recently launched their much anticipated iPhone 14 series, which consists of four smartphones – iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Meanwhile, the tech giant’s manufacturer recently begun producing the iPhone 14 base model in the Sriperumbudur facility near Chennai, in India.

Read Also: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max specification & Price

In a report published recently, JP Morgan analysts predicted that Apple would shift 5 per cent of the world’s iPhone 14 production to India by late 2022 and increase its manufacturing capacity to create 25 per cent of all iPhones by 2025.

Key Specs

Apple iPhone 14 Pro

Apple A16 Bionic | 6 GBProcessor

6.1 inches (15.49 cm)Display

48 MP + 12 MP + 12 MPRear camera

12 MPSelfie camera

3200 mAhBattery

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Price in China Fondsale $489 Go to Store