iPhone 13 Reportedly Having Production Issues, Leaving Customers to Face Prolonged Delivery Times

The newly launched iPhone 13 and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro are apparently hitting a snag in production, mainly due to a new wave of health concerns and limited manufacturing capacity for the devices' camera systems in Vietnam, according to a new report from Nikkei Asia.

iPhone 13 Pro Feature Blue
The ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini, ‌iPhone‌ 13, ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro, and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max all feature sensor-shift optical image stabilization, a feature that was previously exclusive to the iPhone 12 Pro Max, and the feature’s expansion is reportedly the root cause of production difficulties.

According to today's report, the expansion of sensor-shift OIS to all models of the 2021 ‌iPhone‌ lineup has put on a strain on Apple's suppliers as demand for the system is significantly higher, adding to pressure to meet Apple's high-quality standards, raising demand, and the battle against the global health crisis.

This has put suppliers in the position of having to ramp up production without jeopardizing production quality, against the backdrop of severe restrictions due to COVID.

"Assemblers can still produce the new iPhones, but there's a supply gap [in] that the inventories of the camera modules are running low," one of the executives with direct knowledge told Nikkei Asia. "There's nothing we can do but to monitor the situation in Vietnam every day and wait for them to ramp up the output."

Demand for the new ‌iPhone‌ 13 and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro has been high, according to early estimates shared by analysts.. This year's ‌iPhone‌ features considerable upgrades compared to the ‌iPhone‌ 12, including a ProMotion display, smaller notch, and more premium camera features.

Nikkie Asia reports that production issues should begin to clear up in mid-October but adds caution that some of Apple's other suppliers, such as Foxconn and Pegatron, could start to see issues in the near future. On the flip side, the ‌iPhone‌ 13's high demand is leading some of Apple's suppliers to prioritize the Cupertino tech giant over other clients.

The situation may improve as soon as around mid-October as production at one of the key iPhone camera module manufacturing facilities in southern Vietnam has gradually resumed in recent days after several months of on-and-off disruption, another executive familiar with the situation told Nikkei.

So far, key iPhone assemblers Foxconn, Pegatron and Luxshare have not yet been significantly affected by the power cuts, Nikkei learned. But still unknown is the scope of a potential chain reaction from production halts at the makers of materials, components, modules and parts.

Apple's suppliers have also had to battle reduced work hours due to new energy restrictions in China, ultimately impacting production.

Tag: Nikkei
Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

pdxplm Avatar
50 months ago
Got mine on the 24th and have 0 regrets. Coming from a 7+ this thing is amazing!
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macar00n Avatar
50 months ago
If only scientists could invent something we could all take to nearly eliminate the severe risks of COVID. Have we looked into that?

Then we could have our cameras on time and go back to cramming people into buildings like sardines which everyone loves
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spanther Avatar
50 months ago
?Tale as old as time?

Every. Single. Year. They've been copy/pasting this same article since the iPhone 3G.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
calzon65 Avatar
50 months ago
COVID has shown bare some of the negative side effects of a highly distributed, co-dependent parts manufacturing model, across certain less than dependable countries (not attacking Vietnam mentioned in the story), where one tiny part can hold up an entire production line. Look at the pain the auto industry is experiencing as they shutter entire manufacturing lines because of a few or single critical component. Distributed manufacturing can be a smart strategy, but companies need to rethink the risks.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Dee Avatar
50 months ago
This always happen, by January everything will be normal and anyone who wants one will be able to get one. But based on my visit to the Apple store last Saturday, people are upgrading like crazy.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rmoliv Avatar
50 months ago
They never learn do they? It's the same every year!!!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)