Apple's production order changes for second-generation AirPods Pro has severely impacted assembler Goertek's finances, with it seeing a 60% cut in revenue for the year.
Supplies of the iPhone 14 Pro models have improved and moderated lead times for getting into the hands of customers, JP Morgan's tracker indicates, but lead times will continue to be a focus throughout December.
Apple is working to speed up its shift of part of its supply chain out of China, with supply chain partners warned to plan for increases in assembly in India and Vietnam.
Apple's Chinese iPhone factory misfortunes will certainly impact shipments, says JP Morgan, but the full impact won't be known until the facility returns to normal output.
Apple has reportedly started to use LG Display as a supplier of OLED panels for the iPhone 14 Pro models, alongside existing supplier Samsung Display.
Apple has finally confirmed that the Foxconn assembly facility in Zhengzhou, China responsible for iPhone 14 Pro production has reduced its output following a regional COVID-19 outbreak.
In the wake of reports of employees fleeing Foxconn's biggest iPhone factory, the assembly partner has significantly raised pay for staff who are choosing to accept the closed-loop measures during a COVID outbreak.
Workers at Foxconn's major iPhone factory in Zhengzhou, China are choosing to leave the facility currently operating as a closed-loop during a COVID outbreak, with social media showing employees traveling home instead of staying.
Foxconn's COVID-19 outbreak in a major iPhone factory could impact production by up to 30%, but the assembly partner is attempting to use other facilities to keep production up.
A COVID-19 outbreak at Foxconn's main iPhone assembly plant has forced it to change plans to seasonally reduce production, postponing the slowdown while it deals with closed-loop production changes.
Apple's efforts to shift production out of China will focus on shifting more global iPhone orders to India and MacBook manufacturing to Thailand, according to Ming-Chi Kuo.
Foxconn set new records for sales in September, making Apple's main assembly partner "cautiously optimistic" ahead of its fourth-quarter results.
Apple's iPhone production in India is continuing to expand, and India factories are expected to double annual shipments to $2.5 billion.
Preorders for Apple's iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are very high compared to its non-Pro counterparts, a survey by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo indicates, but it seems demand for the iPhone 14 Plus isn't close to that of the iPhone 13 mini it replaces.
A shortage of cheap chips is affecting production of cutting-edge chips, the CEO of TSMC has warned, with massive demand for the low-cost silicon consuming supply chains that could be used for more advanced chips, like Apple's A-series and M-series.
Apple's attempts to grow India as a manufacturing hub alternative to China is being slowed down by Apple itself, with the company's need for secrecy impacting attempts to get the two regions manufacturing new products simultaneously.
Key Apple supply chain partner Foxconn is planning on investing $300 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Northern Vietnam in an effort to boost production.
Apple is seemingly expecting more sales of the iPhone 14 than previously thought, with reported changes to supply chain orders raising the total to 95 million units.
Overall smartphone shipments in China are plummeting toward their lowest point in a decade, though signs indicate Apple is still faring well in the environment.
Apple will reportedly use different grades of OLED panels between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, further differentiating the two models.
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Malcolm Owen
Mike Peterson
