The iPhone 14 Max is currently about three weeks behind schedule, according to Jeff Pu, an analyst at Haitong International Securities.
Yesterday, Nikkei Asia reported that at least one iPhone 14 model was three weeks late due to the impact of blockchains on Apple’s supply chains in China, but it was unclear with which iPhone 14 model related. Now, Pu has clarified that the model in question is the iPhone 14 Max, Apple’s next iPhone that is expected to bring a larger screen size of 6.7 inches to its line of smartphones not Pro.
Pu explained that the delay of the iPhone 14 Max has been caused specifically because Pegatron stopped production during the last blockade in Shanghai. The iPhone 14 Max is not expected to go into mass production until the end of August, probably a few weeks before the new iPhone line is unveiled at an Apple event in September.
The four models – the iPhone 14 – are currently believed to be in the development of the Engineering Verification Test (EVT), according to Nikkei sources. Normally, all new iphone models complete the EVT and go into the verification phase at the end of June. After the development phase of the new iPhones, the major assemblers of Apple, Foxconn and Pegatron, enter a phase known as the introduction of new products (NPI) during which the manufacturing process of the latest designs is drawn. The NPI is followed by several final verification processes before mass production begins.
According to Pu, the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are still scheduled to reach mass production in early August, weeks before the iPhone 14 Max. It is unclear whether the delay will result in the shipment of the iPhone 14 Max later than other iPhone 14 models, or simply whether it will expire at the time of launch. Nikkei sources suggested that the time period still depends on the extent to which the development process of the iPhone 14 Max can be accelerated.
Apple is reportedly telling suppliers to speed up product development efforts to make up for lost time before the delay affects the typical manufacturing schedule, which could affect the initial production volumes of the “iPhone 14” line wider. Similarly, it emerged earlier this month that Apple told Foxconn to start hiring workers to assemble iPhone 14 models earlier than usual amid fears that blockades in China could lead to low supply. or delays at the end of the year.
Update: Following the publication of this article, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that Apple has not changed the shipping plan for the iPhone 14 models despite the blockades in China. He reiterated that the iPhone 14 Max is lagging behind, but the situation is under control and vendors can work overtime to catch up. He believes that the challenges of the iPhone 14 line “will come from the demand side rather than the supply side.”