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Apple Ramps Up iPhone 13 Chip Orders, Scales Down Orders for Older iPhones

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Apple has managed to ramp up chip orders for its new iPhone 13 lineup by reducing equivalent orders for the older-generation iPhone models that the company still sells, according to a new DigiTimes report.

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Apple has scaled down its chip orders for older-generation iPhones, while ramping up wafer starts at TSMC for its iPhone 13, the sources said. Apple has also not made any changes to its chip orders placed with TSMC for 2021, the sources noted.
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Apple continues to sell the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, and iPhone 11 on its online store, and also offers the iPhone SE 2 for users who prefer an affordable iPhone with a Home button. Apple discontinued the iPhone XR, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max when it launched the iPhone 13 series in September.

Apple is currently struggling with shipment delays on all configurations of iPhone 13 models, with three- to four- week delays in shipments in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Older-generation models aren't doing that much better, either. As of writing, online iPhone 12 and 12 mini orders face a one- to two-week shipping delay, while iPhone 11 orders face an up to five-week delay.

During Apple's last earnings call, CEO Tim Cook warned that industry-wide shortages could be impacting iPhone production in the coming months, while increased demand for the latest iPhones could well be exacerbating supply issues. Analyst reports suggest ‌iPhone 13‌ orders have seen strong early demand, with minimal near-term component headwinds for the devices suggesting lengthy delivery estimates are a result of high demand rather than low supply.

According to today's report, TSMC is still on track to move its 3nm process technology to volume production in the second half of 2022, with monthly output for the process set to reach 55,000 wafers. TSMC's 3nm process will reportedly be first adopted for the manufacture of iPhone chips. A previous report from Nikkei Asia claimed Apple will debut the next-generation 3nm chip technology in a 2022 iPad Pro.

The A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13 uses a 5nm+ process, which TSMC refers to as N5P, a "performance-enhanced version" of its 5nm process that delivers additional power efficiency and performance improvements. The A16 chip in 2022 iPhones is expected to be manufactured based on TSMC's future 4nm process.

Article Link: Apple Ramps Up iPhone 13 Chip Orders, Scales Down Orders for Older iPhones
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/10/04/apple-ramps-up-iphone-13-chip-orders/
It's high demand more than low manufacturing output.

Media: No big changes to the iPhone 12 so it's boring.
Actual customers: It's a huge upgrade if you're upgrading from anything before the 12, and it's a really good upgrade from the 12 itself, and the MSRP is cheaper than the 12 in China so everyone is buying it. Huge demand for it.
 
Acidsplat said:
As a buyer of the 13 mini since the battery life was improved from last year, I hope there's enough sales to show Tim that there's still demand for small phones.
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If Apple is indeed not making the iPhone 14 Mini based on iPhone 12 Mini sales, I think it's a mistake. The iPhone 12 Mini launched in a year where people didn't go outside so they didn't want a small phone. And it launched with poor battery. The iPhone 13 Mini will launch in a year where people can actually go outside and it fixed the battery life issue.

I'm getting an iPhone 13 Mini myself and would upgrade to an iPhone 14 Mini if they made one and it has 120hz.
 
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Acidsplat said:
As a buyer of the 13 mini since the battery life was improved from last year, I hope there's enough sales to show Tim that there's still demand for small phones.
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I still think the mini form factor eventually becomes the SE once the current design is no longer serviceable. Probably another 2-3 years yet, which should roughly coincide with the 13 mini no longer being on sale.
 
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I hope they can shorten the delivery delay a bit. I just ordered a 13 Pro Max this weekend and the shipping estimate is November 4-11. I don’t mind so much, but a week or two earlier would be appreciated as my current phone is beginning to crap out on me.
 
Such strong demand for the Pro Max is what’s pushing out shipping dates. Everyone just wants the highest end Apple device now. It such an important part of your life that the best is needed.
 
IsaacM said:
13 seems to be what customers expected from the 12 and it's selling like hotcakes
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Waffle sell better, IMHO.

Tim being the supply chain guru he is, secured the contracts to prioritize Apple's microprocessor needs over an extended period. This is giving the company the ability to be agile under dynamic supply and demand situations.

I'm not a fan of his management style, but when it comes to making the goods move, Tim is a genius.
 
Falhófnir said:
I still think the mini form factor eventually becomes the SE once the current design is no longer serviceable. Probably another 2-3 years yet, which should roughly coincide with the 13 mini no longer being on sale.
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Nah. It will be the iPhone 13 form factor.
 
1037210 said:
Everything is hard to get.
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Yes. Housing, vehicles, electronics, food are all in short supply. In some places even energy and services are a problem. Demand inched up but supply was optimized to the point it reacts with glacial change, if at all. A response I've seen in interviews with corporate leaders is "demand will pass, why expand?".
 
Tha makes complete sense, why waste resources for an older model when they can be used for the new current model.
 
High demand for the new iPhones as always. Customers may also prefer to buy the latest iPhones compared to last years model especially when the base storage capacity has increased this year.
 
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Acidsplat said:
As a buyer of the 13 mini since the battery life was improved from last year, I hope there's enough sales to show Tim that there's still demand for small phones.
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Finally upgraded from an SE (1st gen.) to a 13 mini, and really enjoying it EXCEPT for the lack of Touch ID.

Face ID with masks means constantly putting in a passcode, and it makes me feel like we've regressed a decade to my iPhone 3GS.
 
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I wonder how many iPhones are sitting off the coast of L.A. right now. Cargo ships everywhere are still just sitting out there.
 
I'm not terribly surprised. Imagine you're coming from an 11 or older, and you've decided you want either 128gb or 256gb. You only save $50USD by dropping down to the 12 or 12 mini. Worth it for some, but not exactly a huge enticement given the improvements this year.
 
"... also offers the iPhone SE 2 for users who prefer an affordable iPhone with a Home button."

Having moved from 6s to 12 six months ago, I really don't miss a Home button, although I admit it can be a useful feature for some elderly people, for example. But what I do miss is a headphone jack. With Airpods, I would either lose them or they would become e-waste in two years as the battery capacity wears off.
 
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