Factory Lockdown Increases Wait Time for iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max

Shipments of Apple’s newest premium iPhones will be lower than expected owing to the COVID-related restrictions imposed by the Chinese government in the Zhengzhou area, home to the Apple assembly plant.

This disruption comes at a very important time for Apple. The company launched the iPhone 14 series despite plunging global electronic demand, the likes of which no one has ever seen.

We continue to see strong demand for iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models. However, we now expect lower iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max shipments than we previously anticipated and customers will experience longer wait times to receive their new products,

Apple says.

Foxconn Technology Group plant, where many Apple products are assembled, is already operating at "significantly reduced capacity," due to an on-site coronavirus outbreak, limits on contacts with the outside world, and workers trying to flee the facility because of these restrictions. The lockdown measures by the local officials are expected to further hinder the operation of the factory.

Foxconn is now working with the government in concerted effort to stamp out the pandemic and resume production to its full capacity as quickly as possible,

the company’s statement says.