Apple will lose millions of iPhone 14 Pro due to incidents in China

Problems at Foxconn’s Zhengzhou, China factory affect production iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. A big headache for Apple considering they are the most sought after of their next generation mobile phones. And expectations for the end of the year are not good, as the incidents will force those from Cupertino lose 6 million units of the above models.

As reported bloomberg, this figure represents the most recent estimate of the production shortfall Apple is facing due to the situation at Foxconn. However, the report mentions that the terrain remains “fluid”, so the number can change from moment to moment. There are even concerns that the assembly of mobile phones it may take even longerif the restrictions due to the COVID-19 outbreak in China continue.

The news is expected to affect the delivery times for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, which are already under a lot of pressure. These days, both in the United States and in Spain and other parts of the world, Apple is showing average delay 4 weeks for those who want to purchase any of the two models in their online store. This means customers placing new orders today probably won’t receive their phones until Christmas.

Foxconn’s Zhengzhou facilities have been in the news in recent weeks due to mass layoffs of workers who have denounced poor living conditions and unfulfilled promises of payment, amid the coronavirus outbreaks that are plaguing the region. Last week, 20,000 workers, most of them newly hired, decided to leave the plant after violent clashes with security personnel.

iPhone 14 Pro production takes a hit

The 6 million unit shortfall of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max that Apple will face before the end of the year is the least desired news for Tim Cook and company. In early November, the Cupertino-based company had already lowered production expectations for all of its smartphone models to 87 million units from an initial 90 million. But they would cut their forecasts again after the events of the last few weeks in China.

After all, when it became known about the mass resignations of recent days, it was said that Foxconn will lose more than 30% of iPhone production in November. Though it wasn’t specifically known how this would affect the Pro models from its latest line.

The Taiwanese firm told Bloomberg that they hope to return 6 million iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max in 2023.. In any case, for this they will have to restore the planned production capacity. Something fundamental considering the Zhengzhou plant is currently the only one producing the most premium from Apple.

These facilities employ about 200,000 people today and are informally known as iPhone City (iPhone City), due to the interference that Apple mobile phones have in the production line.

The fallout from the recent incidents at Foxconn has further increased Apple’s dependence on China. Something that not only affects the iPhone 14 Pro, but all of its devices. However, in the case of their smartphones it is even more serious than in other devices. And it is simply impossible to take their production out of China today, since it is estimated that it will take Cupertino at least 8 years to take 10% of production to other countries.