The iPhone 14 Max is currently about three weeks behind schedule, according to Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu. Yesterday, Nikkei Asia reported that at least one iPhone 14 model was three weeks behind schedule as Apple’s supply chain in China was affected by the lockdown, though it was unclear which iPhone 14 model this was related to.
Now that Pu has pointed out that the model in question is the iPhone 14 Max, Apple’s upcoming iPhone is expected to bring a larger 6.7-inch display size to its non-Pro line of smartphones. Pu explained that the delay of the iPhone 14 Max was caused by Pegatron’s suspension of production during the recent epidemic prevention lockdown in Shanghai. The iPhone 14 Max isn’t expected to enter mass production until late August, possibly just a few weeks before Apple unveils the new iPhone lineup at its September event.
Currently, all four iPhone 14 models are believed to be in the development stage of the Engineering Validation Test (EVT), according to Nikkei’s sources. Typically, all new iPhone models complete EVT and enter the verification phase by the end of June. Following the development phase of the new iPhone, Apple’s main assemblers Foxconn and Pegatron enter a phase known as the New Product Introduction (NPI), during which the manufacturing process for the latest design is outlined. NPI is followed by several final validation processes before mass production begins.
According to Pu, the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are still on schedule to reach the mass production stage in early August, a few weeks before the iPhone 14 Max. It’s unclear whether the delay will translate into a later shipment of the iPhone 14 Max than other iPhone 14 models, or simply an announcement of a shortage at launch, a time frame that still depends on how much faster the iPhone 14 Max development process is can be.
Apple has reportedly urged suppliers to speed up product development efforts to make up for a lost time before delays affect typical production schedules, and the success of those efforts could affect initial production volumes for the iPhone 14 series more broadly. Likewise, news emerged earlier this month that Apple asked Foxconn to start recruiting workers earlier than usual to assemble iPhone 14 models amid concerns that China’s lockdown measures could lead to supply shortages or delays later this year.