Apple‘s supply chain has been immensely affected due to the lockdowns and restrictions put in place to curb the coronavirus around the world. The supply of Apple iPhone 12 has been hit especially in India where the main plant involved in the manufacture of iPhones had to drastically cut their manpower and production due to the spread of infection amongst their workers.
However, downstream module makers in Apple’s iPhone supply chain are likely to be pulling in shipments for the necessary parts for the iPhone around June in anticipation of Apple’s next generation of iPhones in the second half of 2021.
Apple is not leaving any stone unturned in its effort to ensure that the upcoming iPhone’s supply and distribution chain does not get impacted and remains stable. Ensuring steady supplies of components needed for the iPhone amidst the tight capacity in the semiconductor industry and prevailing uncertainties in the global logistic capacities seems to be their top priority.
Certain supply chain makers have mentioned that they have received orders from a US-based client, presumably Apple with the visibility of orders extending up to September. It is early to tell if the next-generation iPhones will launch as scheduled due to the fact that samples of parts and components are being prepared now.
If there are no more bumps ahead, the supply chain makers including MLCC, chip resistors, inductors, protection components, and quartz crystals will reach their production peak in September-October.
Apple has already beaten Samsung in terms of procurement of AMOLED screens which they will implement in the upcoming iPhone 13 series, the iPhone 12 series features OLED screens.
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