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iPhone 14 Pro supply problems
Production in China slowed by lockdowns and unrest
BY ALEX SUMMERSBY
iPHONE 14 PRO models may be in short supply for some time.
In November, Apple took the unusual step of warning supplies would be constrained over the holiday season because “COVID–19 restrictions have temporarily impacted the primary iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max assembly facility located in Zhengzhou, China.” However, things seem to be more complicated than that.
Apple’s main contractor in China, Foxconn, routinely hires seasonal staff to meet peak demand. In 2022, at Apple’s request, it started its annual recruitment drive two months early, offering big sign–on bonuses to attract the estimated 100,000 extra staff required. Local authorities also attempted to mitigate the impact of government– mandated lockdowns by inviting retired military personnel to help.