In its earnings call this week, Apple CEO Tim Cook specifically addressed the problems the company is having with keeping the iPhone 12 on the shelves, calling the supply lines “constrained” (via TechRadar).
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This has certainly been a theme for the year as companies struggle to produce at typical volumes. We saw it early in the year with the Nintendo Switch and those trying to find an Xbox Series X at launch or pick up a PS5 next month can attest that the struggle is real.
iPhone 12 shortages
The iPhone 12 can now join the illustrious list of delayed products as Cook said, “If you look at iPhone, we’re constrained today…how long we’ll be constrained is hard to predict. We haven’t taken orders yet for the iPhone 12 mini or Pro Max, so those are coming and we shall see.” Those pre-orders start next Friday, November 6 and the iPhone 12 mini, in particular, seems like it could be an extremely popular option this year as both the cheapest iPhone 12 and the smallest iPhone in years. The iPhone 12 Pro Max will no doubt be a popular option as well, featuring both the best camera and largest battery among the iPhone 12 models. Don’t sleep on those pre-orders when they go live on Friday if you want an iPhone 12 mini or 12 Pro Max in time for the holidays.
iPad and MacBook shortages too
Cook didn’t stop there. While the iPhone is the most pressing problem, Mac and iPad supplies are similarly constrained. The iPad makes sense, particularly the iPad Air (2020) as it uses the same A14 Bionic chip as the iPhone 12 models. The Mac shortages are a little more perplexing and maybe revealing of how widespread a problem this is as there are no recently updated Macs, something Apple may remedy before the end of the year. If you’ve been waiting on a new MacBook purchase, try to pick up some tips from the iPhone mini orders next week to make sure you can get your hands on your new MacBook when it is available later this year.
