Editor's Note (Nov. 17): When you finally get your iPhone 13, at least you'll be able to use it for a long time. Apple is now making parts and tools available for purchase to repair the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 yourself.
There is so much demand for the iPhone 13 that Apple is having a hard time making enough iPhones. We have been tracking iPhone 13 delays for weeks. In fact, ongoing supply chain issues mean that there may not be enough iPhone 13 supply to meet demand until February 2022.
This is according to a Digitimes report, which states that iPhone 13 supply will face constraints from the holiday season through Q1 2022. However, it appears that Apple is already working hard to end the supply problem as soon as possible.
At this point, prospective buyers of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are looking at an estimated delivery date of November 17-19. Looking from Tom's Guide's office in New York, we can also see options for in-store pickup today -- although this availability will depend on the specific model you want and where you live.
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, on the other hand, are experiencing more serious delays, with estimated delivery dates ranging from December 2 to December 9. So if you had your heart set on one of the more premium iPhone 13s before the holidays, you should place your order as soon as possible.
Earlier reports suggested that the key problem facing iPhone 13 production was a shortage of certain key chips. However, the Digitimes report claims that suppliers are increasing production and that those shortages are slowly easing.
While this is not an overnight solution, it does indicate that Apple is making good on its promise to increase iPhone supply. Apple has also reportedly cut iPad production by 50% and is increasing capacity to ensure that iPhone 13 delays are no worse than they are now.
Fortunately, February is estimated to be a period of "end demand" when supply and demand are in equilibrium. In other words, after this point, it should be much easier to buy an iPhone 13, especially if Apple continues to do what it is apparently doing.
The situation Apple is in is quite unprecedented. Over the past year or so, there have been a number of supply chain issues, particularly with regard to components. The global chip shortage has affected everything from car manufacturing to gaming consoles, all due to suppliers not being able to produce enough chips to meet demand.
There is no single main reason for the shortage, but the COVID-19 pandemic affected production capacity, as did the trade war with China. In addition, the global lockdown was implemented in large parts of the world, which exacerbated the problem as large demand for consumer electronics products.
To Apple's credit, it was one of the few companies that came away relatively unscathed. Experts attribute this to the company's high purchasing power and diverse supply chain connections.
Fortunately, there appears to be an end in sight to this situation. It just means waiting another three months for everything to settle down a bit.
Comments