Apple 'Working Feverishly' to Improve iPhone 13 Supplies

[MacRumors]

During today's earnings call for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2021, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Apple is "working feverishly" to boost iPhone 13 supplies.

Cook said that Apple feels "very very good" about where demand is at for the iPhone 13, in terms of sales compared to the iPhone 12. Supplies are constrained, though, and Apple has not been able to meet demand.

Initial supplies of the iPhone 13 models sold out quickly after the new smartphones went on sale in September, and there are currently long wait times for most iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max devices.

Apple lost around $6 billion in revenue during the quarter due to supply issues that were caused by chip shortages and COVID-related manufacturing delays, and Apple expects that these supply problems will continue into next quarter.

Article Link: Apple 'Working Feverishly' to Improve iPhone 13 Supplies

 

[unregbaron]

Impressive demand and/or short supply means there’s still a 3-4 week wait in the U.K. for a graphite 128gb 13 Pro….

 

[staypuftforums]

Probably not a good idea to be working with a fever during a pandemic. Take a few days off, fellas.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Delays after delays. Hopefully iPhone 14 will be much of a smoother launch.

 

[now i see it]

Aple lost 6 billion $ because of constrained iPhone 13 supply but still posted record profits

 

[smorrissey]

what about "Working Feverishly" fixing ios 15 bugs like low sound notifications? mmm?

 

[reyesmac]

I wonder how much Apple is considering moving some manufacturing closer to their main customers? Or would that offend their current suppliers who can create even more logistical nightmares if they wanted to? They better hope we never get into a war with china or we all will be waiting a few years for that next iPhone.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Aple lost 6 billion $ because of constrained iPhone 13 supply but still posted record profits

Yes, cause they didn't lose 6 billion. They just lost out on potentially $6 billion more.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I wonder how much Apple is considering moving some manufacturing closer to their main customers?

It'd be a big hit on their bottomline to do that.

 

[Prof.]

I expect this to carry on for at least 2 more years. Our global supply chain is ****ed

 

[Durafab]

I’m returning mine, so that will bulk up their b stock inventory. I like it, it’s just too big compared to my iPhone 8. Amazing what a difference two ounces can make. It’s also out of balance, top heavy. Prior to buying I handled other peoples‘ 12s, and thought yeah, this could work. I wanted the camera for YouTube stuff. But in day to day, too hefty. So I’ll get a “mini.”

In contrast, I love the extra size and weight of the new MBP 16 because of what it affords, and it doesn’t need to go unnoticed (by me) in my pocket.

 

[snipr125]

I expect this to carry on for at least 2 more years. Our global supply chain is f*cked

Yep, with PS5 and X Box One X stock (or lack thereof) being a prime example of this.

 

[MathersMahmood]

Very lucky I managed to get my hands on mine when I did.

 

[macOS Lynx]

My local Best Buy has every Pro in stock in 128 and 256 except for Silver. Just picked mine up the other day on an INSANE trade in deal for T-Mobile customers ($975 instant credit, not bill credits).

 

[anshuvorty]

Delays after delays. Hopefully iPhone 14 will be much of a smoother launch.

I have a nickname for the iPhone 12-13-era iPhones: the "COVID-era iPhones." Who knows what features we would've gotten on these iPhones if the pandemic didn't exist? Maybe the notch would've gotten smaller on the iPhone 12 instead of the iPhone 13. Maybe ProMotion would've made it to the iPhone 12 Pros and then all of the iPhone 13 phones would've had ProMotion.

It is fascinating to just think about the alternate reality that could've happened if the pandemic didn't delay production...

 

[ssl0408]

My local Best Buy has every Pro in stock in 128 and 256 except for Silver. Just picked mine up the other day on an INSANE trade in deal for T-Mobile customers ($975 instant credit, not bill credits).

Any idea how long this will last?

 

[ghanwani]

The pro phone look good in pictures but not too impressive in person. Surprised they are having supply issues because there are never any lines outside my local store and they seem to have availability of everything.

 

[thadoggfather]

I have a nickname for the iPhone 12-13-era iPhones: the "COVID-era iPhones." Who knows what features we would've gotten on these iPhones if the pandemic didn't exist? Maybe the notch would've gotten smaller on the iPhone 12 instead of the iPhone 13. Maybe ProMotion would've made it to the iPhone 12 Pros and then all of the iPhone 13 phones would've had ProMotion.

It is fascinating to just think about the alternate reality that could've happened if the pandemic didn't delay production...

Eh, iPhone 12 was worked on and locked in long before the pandemic. 13 probably got a good headstart too, and was wrapped up at some point during the pandemic. It was always expected to be a tick-tock cycle (12 and '12S' effectively)

 

[SurferPup]

Tim's our man - logistics and problem solving is his forte.

 

[Orange Bat]

I ordered a 13 PM on October 2nd. The estimated delivery was November 4-11. It finally shipped on October 25, got stuck in Korea for a couple days, and is now on its way south from Alaska.

I was worried, given all the news lately, that my estimated shipping time would fall further behind. However, it’s still scheduled to be here early. While the wait is not fun, I’m just happy that Apple is still meeting their estimated shipping times. There will be in real trouble if shipping times fall behind the estimates.

 

[Johnny907]

Maybe they should “feverishly” work on diversifying their supply chain then. Perhaps consider opening manufacturing centers somewhere other than Asia?

 

[tongxinshe]

I wonder how much Apple is considering moving some manufacturing closer to their main customers?

That will mean much worse component constraints than now.

 

[Shirasaki]

Aple lost 6 billion $ because of constrained iPhone 13 supply but still posted record profits

In the magic world of Apple, we can lose and earn money at the same time, beating all odds and defy law of physics.

 

[Shirasaki]

It'd be a big hit on their bottomline to do that.

Or rather Apple can actually manufacture their stuff in USA? Lots and lots of folks would cheer if this happens.

 

[tongxinshe]

Maybe they should “feverishly” work on diversifying their supply chain then. Perhaps consider opening manufacturing centers somewhere other than Asia?

Besides the cost increase everybody talk about all of the time, a bigger problem is actually to get seasonal workforce. To accommodate that, they need to do one of the things below:
1. Start mass production in the Spring, for a release in the Fall. Beyond big stocking cost, a bigger problem of this method is, comparing with the competition products, they would basically be using technologies half a year older.
2. Let the merchandise shortage at release be times worse than now. This method would largely decrease customer satisfaction to the company and eventually lose a lot of them.
3. For half a year, pay the manufacturer workers for doing nothing. The cost hit of this method would be a lot larger than the regional labor rate differences.