| Cult of Mac

iPhone 14 Pro Max tops worldwide smartphone sales in first half of 2023

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iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max brought big-time camera-system upgrades.
Apple's Pro iPhones are seling really well!
Photo: Leander

The iPhone 14 Pro Max emerged as the most-shipped smartphone worldwide in the first half of 2023, according to the latest estimates. Apple reportedly shipped 26.5 million units of its most expensive phone.

The company’s smaller iPhone 14 Pro came in as the second-most-shipped smartphone globally, followed by the regular iPhone 14.

A whopping 80% of the world’s bestselling handsets are iPhones

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Apple California Streaming event: iPhone 13 comes in an array of five colors.
iPhone 13 was the best-selling smartphone in the world in 2022.
Photo: Apple

iPhone captured eight spots in the list of top 10 bestselling smartphones for 2022, according to a market-research firm. In fact, Apple makes the three most popular models.

But Samsung’s flagship Android device surely lands at least one spot in the top 10, right? Nope.

iPhone 14 Pro supply catches up with demand

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iPhone 14 Pro has the processing power for great gaming.
You can put your hands on a new iPhone 14 Pro today.
Photo: Apple

The time when iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max buyers could expect a long wait to get Apple’s latest are over. The top-of-the-line iOS handsets can now be ordered from the Apple store for next-day delivery.

That’s a far cry from last fall when the wait stretched out over a month.

Why now is the best time to buy an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max

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iPhone 14 Pro held above a wet picnic table
You can have a shiny new iPhone 14 Pro in your hand soon. But there's a good reason to not procrastinate on placing your order.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Now is the “sweet spot” to get an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max. Apple has almost caught up with demand, but a growing crisis in China might impact production of the top-tier iOS handsets.

So if you’ve been waiting for the right time to order one, this is probably it.

Design problem forced Apple to nerf iPhone 14 Pro chip

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iPhone 14 might have to settle for less advanced 4nm chip
The A16 is much weaker in graphics performance than Apple initially intended.
Graphic: Apple/Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The A16 processor in the iPhone 14 Pro models isn’t as powerful as Apple first hoped. Engineers reportedly mucked up the original design of the GPU so much that the company was forced to use essentially the same design as its predecessor.

Apple’s difficulties hiring and retaining top talent for its processor team apparently caused the problem.

Clear Mkeke MagSafe cases protect and showcase iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max

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Mkeke's clear magnetic cases protect and show off iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.
Mkeke's clear magnetic cases protect and show off iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

What’s better than a clear case that shows off the sleek beauty of your iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max while protecting it from every bump, scrape and drop? That’s an easy question to answer — what’s even better is the same clear case with MagSafe technology.

Powerful magnets in Mkeke’s affordable and super-protective clear bumper cases for iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max make charging up the handsets fast and easy with any MagSafe or Qi charger. And they look good while doing it, too.

iPhone 14 Pro wait times now stretch to 2023

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iPhone 14 Pro in 2023
If you haven't already ordered an iPhone 14 Pro, it won't arrive before 2023.
Photo: Cult of Mac/Engin Akyurt/Pexels

It’s no longer possible to order a new top-tier iPhone from Apple and have it delivered this year. The iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max are both backordered until early January 2023.

The delay is the result of strong demand for these handsets coupled with production problems in China.

iOS 16.1.2 aims to fix iPhone 14 Crash Detection feature

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iOS 16.1.2 aims to fix iPhone 14 Crash Detection feature
iPhone 14 Crash Detection feature should only be set off by a real crash.
Photo: Cult of Mac/Pixabay/Pexels

The new iOS 16.1.2 update is intended to make the iPhone 14 stop calling for an ambulance when the user takes a tumble. It includes “Crash Detection optimizations” according to Apple.

The update released Wednesday also makes some other tweaks so it’s worth installing on all compatible iPhones.

COVID lockdown lifted for primary iPhone Pro assembly plant

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Coronavirus-related shutdowns continue to disrupt Chinese factories.
After recent riots, there's hope normal operations will resume soon at Foxconn's iPhone Pro assembly plant.
Photo: Steve Jurvetson/Flickr CC

The Chinese government lifted the COVID-19 lockdown in Zhengzhou, China, the location of the Foxconn facility where most iPhone Pro models are assembled. This raises the possibility that normal operations at the facility will resume soon.

Lockdowns in the area have dramatically lowered assembly of Apple handsets… possibly by as much as 80%.