According to Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu, the iPhone 14 Max is currently three weeks behind schedule.
Nikkei Asia claimed yesterday that at least one iPhone 14 model was three weeks behind schedule owing to the impact of Chinese supply chain lockdowns, but it wasn't clear which iPhone 14 model this was referring to. Now, Pu has revealed that the product in question is the iPhone 14 Max, Apple's next iPhone that will have a bigger, 6.7-inch display than the company's non-Pro range of handsets.
Pu added that the iPhone 14 Max's delay was prompted by Pegatron's decision to halt manufacturing during Shanghai's recent lockdown. The iPhone 14 Max isn't expected to go into mass production until late August, presumably only weeks before Apple unveils its 2018 iPhone lineup at an event in September.
According to Nikkei's sources, all four iPhone 14 variants are currently in the engineering verification test (EVT) phase of development. By the end of June, all new iPhone models should have completed the EVT and moved on to the verification step. Following the development phase of new iPhones, Foxconn and Pegatron, Apple's major assemblers, begin a period known as new product introduction (NPI), during which the manufacturing process for the current designs is sketched out. Before mass production begins, NPI is followed by many final verification stages.
According to Pu, the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max are still on track to hit mass production in early August, weeks ahead of the iPhone 14 Max. It's unclear whether the delay means the iPhone 14 Max will arrive later than the other iPhone 14 models, or whether it will just be in short supply when it launches. According to Nikkei's sources, the timeline is still contingent on how quickly the iPhone 14 Max's development process can be sped.
Apple reportedly instructed suppliers to accelerate product development efforts in order to make up for lost time before the delay affects the typical manufacturing schedule, which could have an impact on initial production volumes of the iPhone 14 lineup more broadly. Similarly, earlier this month, it was revealed that Apple instructed Foxconn to begin recruiting workers to assemble iPhone 14 models earlier than usual, amid concerns that China's lockdowns could lead to shortages or delays later in the year.
Following the publication of this article, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that, despite Chinese lockdowns, Apple has not changed its shipping plans for the iPhone 14 models. He reiterated that the iPhone 14 Max is indeed behind schedule, but that the situation is reportedly under control and that suppliers are working extra hours to catch up. He believes that the challenges for the iPhone 14 lineup will come from the demand side rather than the supply side.
iPhone 14 release date: When the new Apple handset will come out – and whether it’s worth buying one now
The iPhone 14 is on its way. Nobody knows when, however.
The upcoming Apple handset is expected to include a number of changes, including the end of the "Mini" size and the same dimensions on the Pro and non-Pro models, no notch at the top of the display in favor of a pill-shaped camera cutout, and a new chip that will only be available on higher-end models. According to the most recent rumors, it may also be the last device to use the Lightning cable.
What is less certain is when it will arrive. Apple's phones usually arrive on time: new models are announced in September and go on sale about a week and a half later.
However, recent years have upended that routine. And there are indications that this year will be no different.
Here's everything you need to know about the possible release date of the iPhone 14 – and whether you should wait before purchasing a new phone.
What can we learn from previous years?
For years, Apple's iPhone release schedule was so consistent that it could be predicted. It would be announced in the second week of September and released on a Friday, a week and a half later.
It's a pattern that started with the iPhone 5 and hasn't changed in years: all of the announcements between 2012's iPhone 5 and 2019's iPhone 11 happened within five days of each other.
However, in recent years, this has begun to change; in 2020, the phones were not announced until October. Then, in 2021, they returned to that schedule, with a September 14 release date.
This benefited Apple because the iPhone is such a large product in the company's lineup and in the world. A regular schedule indicates that the world is prepared for the drop, that people can be encouraged to upgrade, and that investors know when the money is likely to arrive.
The routine differs from that of most other Apple products in that, while the Apple Watch is usually updated at the same time, every other product is updated more infrequently. However, no other Apple product is as large or necessitates such an international operation.
The story continues.
As a result, there are numerous reasons to believe that Apple will follow the same pattern: an iPhone 14 will be announced in the second week of September and will go on sale shortly thereafter. However, this is not guaranteed.
What makes this year different?
Rumours suggest that Apple is already considering a delay. The company is said to be struggling to produce enough phones in time due to additional Chinese lockdowns and other production issues.
It's worth noting, however, that the timeline is probably not even known exactly within Apple at the moment. While it probably knows when it expects the phone to ring, the last two years have shown that nothing can be predicted with absolute certainty, and thus even the most reliable rumours can turn out to be incorrect.
It wouldn't be the first time Apple delayed the release of a phone. It delayed specific versions of its phones – the iPhone X and XR, respectively – in both 2017 and 2018 due to rumored production issues.
It has even done so in the past in response to a pandemic. Apple postponed not only the release of the iPhone 12 but also its announcement in 2020, holding both in October rather than September.
The 2020 delay was widely anticipated and even foreshadowed by Apple, which stated in an earnings call in July that the phone would be available "a few weeks later" than usual.
If there was a change this year, it would most likely follow the same pattern of rumors followed by an official announcement. While Apple is not known for keeping secrets and rarely comments on leaks or upcoming products, the iPhone's release date is such a significant, international event that word is bound to get out one way or another.
Will the iPhone 14 lineup face delays? Kuo weighs in
According to a report published earlier this week, Apple and its suppliers were having difficulty producing the iPhone 14 due to COVID-19 lockdowns in China. Furthermore, an analyst stated that production of the iPhone 14 Plus/Max has been delayed by three weeks. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo now claims that, despite this, Apple's shipping schedule for iPhone 14 models remains on track.
Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted that the new iPhone 14 Max (not the Pro) is lagging, but that it is still under control. He stated:
According to my latest channel checks, Apple has not changed the shipping plans for the iPhone 14 models since the Shanghai lockdown. The iPhone 14 Max is behind schedule, but it is still under control, and suppliers can work extra hours to catch up.
Apple and its suppliers have been struggling with production in recent months as a result of China's zero-COVID policy and strict lockdowns. Nonetheless, Ming-Chi Kuo believes the iPhone 14 production is on track. He continues:
I believe the challenges for the iPhone 14 will come from the demand side rather than the supply side.
Bloomberg reported earlier today that Apple's iPhone production plans for 2022 are estimated to be around 220 million units—roughly 20 million less than analyst consensus estimates. In addition, it would represent zero growth in 2021.
According to people familiar with the company's projections who asked not to be identified because they are not public, the company is asking suppliers to assemble roughly 220 million iPhones, roughly the same as last year. Market forecasts have shifted closer to 240 million units, owing to an expected major iPhone update in the fall.
Though the Chinese lockdowns are expected to have a significant impact on Apple this quarter, one of the people said the company expects to manage the turbulence. Most facilities at Foxconn Technology Group, Apple's main iPhone manufacturer, have remained operational. This includes its largest clusters of factories in Zhengzhou, a city in central China.
9to5Mac will keep you updated as soon as we learn more about the iPhone 14's production. With almost four months until Apple unveils new phones, there's still time for the schedule to shift – for the better or for the worse.