iPhone 12 Said to be Facing Severe Shortage of Power Management Chips

[MacRumors]

Apple is facing a severe shortage of vital power management chips for the iPhone 12, as well as other devices, according to Bloomberg.

Bloomberg notes that power management is particularly important for the iPhone 12 due to its additional camera features and 5G capabilities. Apple has multiple power management chip suppliers, as revealed by a recent teardown from iFixit.

The iPhone 12 Pro uses a power management chip for the camera system from Texas Instruments, and an equivalent chip from STMicroelectronics and Qualcomm for the 5G modem, in addition to a power management chip designed by Apple itself.

The shortage of power management chips is reportedly causing a bottleneck in Apple's already frustrated supply situation, further complicating its ability to meet holiday demand.

Apple is now facing supply constraints across multiple devices, including the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, leading to long wait times for orders. At the end of last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook told investors that the company is "working really, really hard" to remedy the ongoing supply issues.

Earlier today, it was reported that Apple has been repurposing components from iPad models in the iPhone 12 Pro in an effort to meet demand.

Article Link: iPhone 12 Said to be Facing Severe Shortage of Power Management Chips

 

[johannnn]

This is why we have Tim. He might not be the creative genius like Steve, but he’s definitely the supply chain genius.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

They are working really really hard. Yup, I believe that.

 

[WiiDSmoker]

This is why we have Tim. He might not be the creative genius like Steve, but he’s definitely the supply chain genius.

Except they’re having massive supply issues.

 

[Glideslope]

This is why we have Tim. He might not be the creative genius like Steve, but he’s definitely the supply chain genius.

What Tim meant was Jeff Williams and his team are working "really, really, hard."

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Except they’re having massive supply issues.

It’s almost as if all their suppliers had to stop making things for a couple few months earlier this year and haven’t been able to catch up yet. I wonder why???

 

[whirldy]

What Tim meant was Jeff Williams and his team are working "really, really, hard."

The only one ...missing in action lately, and really running the show! ... Craig Federighi !!! Lol!

 

[itsmilo]

well lets hope they dont rush things just to get the product out and we are left with inferior parts

 

[foobarbaz]

Bloomberg notes that power management is particularly important for the ‌iPhone 12‌ due to its additional camera features and 5G capabilities.

Sure, because for the iPhone 11 they could have just started shipping devices without the power management chip. 🤣

I'd say, once the design is fixed, every chip is equally important. Any shortage is problematic.

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

Except they’re having massive supply issues.

You mean massive demand issues

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

Just think about all those people upset about the elections. They are going to buy comfort food and an iPhone 12 pro max to ease the pain

 

[Return Zero]

Except they’re having massive supply issues.

You make a valid point but it's not entirely sound. The pandemic has caused many supply chain issues. One might postulate that without Tim, Apple wouldn't have been able to ship the 12 yet, or that they would not have been able to keep up with the rabid demand for MacBooks and iPads this summer (they did get a little behind keeping iPads in stock actually).

 

[Mr. Dee]

Glad all my upgrade plans are in 2023 so I can wait.

 

[smaffei]

well lets hope they dont rush things just to get the product out and we are left with inferior parts

Well, like Leatherface says… "Parts is parts."

 

[ksec]

For some reason I think this relate to Dialog Semiconductor ? That is the only part that changed out of all Power management chip.

 

[macnchiefs]

I'll throw my two cents in here as I have some real world experience with this.

I work for a company that manufactures cellular equipment and we purchase STMicro chips as well. Lead times have gone out to 5-6 months for their components. Its a big problem right now. Lots of companies are feeling it.

 

[Pbrutto]

The supply genius would have recognized in 2019 the massive global problem we were about to have and made the iPhone 12 and 12 pro use almost all the same parts to simplify the supply chain to help absorb future supply constraints and make an iPad with some similar parts to to help distribute production

 

[LoadStar]

I wonder if this is the reason we've been waiting for well over a month for our orders for Magic Mouse 2 mice that we ordered from a reseller. I bet you those also have power management chips (to cause them to sleep when they don't detect motion) that are not available.

 

[smorrissey]

iphone 12 SE!!

 

[q64ceo]

If only Apple had a diverse set on manufacturers world-wide and did not rely primarily on one company in China...

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Just think about all those people upset about the elections. They are going to buy comfort food and an iPhone 12 pro max to ease the pain

That’s probably going to be just about everyone, regardless of who ends up winning.

 

[sdz]

This is why we have Tim. He might not be the creative genius like Steve, but he’s definitely the supply chain genius.

Why should the CEO of a company care about Supply Chains? For that department, the company has experts and managers.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

Except they’re having massive supply issues.

Ha ha, touché

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

It’s almost as if all their suppliers had to stop making things for a couple few months earlier this year and haven’t been able to catch up yet. I wonder why???

Oh come on, China has been back online for months and months now.

 

[jdiamond]

Seriously, I wonder how compatible these iPad parts are? Functionally, sure, but I'd fear they use too much power and run too hot for a phone.