Apple has reportedly gone back on its plans to boost iPhone 14 production for the year. The company seemingly nixed the original plan after demand for the “standard” iPhone 14 did not surge after its release.
The situation is very different for the iPhone 14 Pro.
Apple is not bumping iPhone 14 production this year
Apple suppliers were scheduled to ramp up production of the “standard” iPhone 14 to produce an additional 6 million units by the end of the year. That’s not going to happen now.
The Cupertino giant now aims to manufacture 90 million iPhone 14 units this year. This is purportedly the same number as last year and what it had initially forecasted for the 2022 iPhones.
China’s economic slowdown is not helping things either. Reportedly, iPhone 14 sales in the country are down 11% from last year’s iPhone 13. The global economy is also facing a headwind with rising inflation and a slowdown in consumer spending.
Bloomberg reports Apple has asked at least one of its suppliers to shift production to the Pro model due to strong demand. Demand for the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro is significantly higher this year, with shipping times reaching as high as 4-6 weeks.
iPhone 14 Pro offers more value for money despite the high price tag
Usually, the regular 6.1-inch non-Pro model is in most demand after launch. But that’s not the case with iPhone 14. It is a modest upgrade over the iPhone 13 and even packs the same A15 Bionic chipset. Unsurprisingly then, there’s tepid demand for it. You can get your hands on one within a week of placing the order. This is the first time that Apple has used a different chip on its non-Pro iPhones. Going forward, this will remain the norm as the company looks to differentiate the Pro and non-Pro models further.
Apple kept the price of the iPhone 14 Pro unchanged at $999 in the US. But compared to iPhone 14’s $699 price tag, the Pro model offers more this year. Apart from a brighter display, it comes with a faster A16 Bionic chip, a 48MP camera system, and Always-On display.
