Buying an iPhone Might Be Difficult This Holiday Season

Top half of the iPhone 14 Pro with the lock screen on and a blue glow coming from behind. — Apple

It has been difficult to buy many electronics over the past two years, from game consoles to cars, and the supply chain problems aren’t over. If you were looking to buy an iPhone 14 Pro this holiday season, your favorite model or color might not be readily available.

Apple has informed users of a possible downturn in shipments as a result of a factory disruption at Apple’s primary iPhone 14 Pro assembly facility in Zhengzhou, China. This stems from a state-mandated quarantine, following a COVID-19 outbreak at that location. The pandemic is still raging worldwide, but China is one of the only countries in the world to still use a radical, zero-tolerance approach to the virus and its spread.

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Apple says that the facility is currently operating in a “significantly reduced” capacity, but even a partial shutdown might prove disastrous to iPhone shipments worldwide. The Zhengzhou plant is capable of producing up to 500,000 iPhones per day at full capacity, and accounts for more than half of Apple’s annual iPhone sales. The company also said that it’s working closely with its supplier to “return to normal production levels while ensuring the health and safety of every worker.”

If you were looking to buy an iPhone 14 Pro and you see the model you want in stock, it’s probably wise for you to buy it now.