Over Three Week Wait Time on iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max
November 6, 2022 at 11:39 a.m.
If you’re hoping to purchase an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max smartphone, you’ll have to wait over three weeks. Due to the short supply of Apple’s new, professional iPhone models, it takes at least three to four weeks for your iPhone to arrive after you place your order.
I went to the online Apple Store to check how long it takes to get various models of iPhone. If ordered today (November 6, 2022), both Pro models will arrive between November 30 and December 7. Sometimes these items arrive sooner than expected; however, my iPhone 14 Pro Max’s delivery, ordered in late September, took over three weeks. Apple’s shipping estimates were accurate. Even months ago, the iPhone 14 Pro Max was in short supply.
Those planning to gift high-end iPhones for Christmas should place their order soon. As demand for professional-grade iPhone models increases, a COVID outbreak in Zhengzhou, China, further diminishes Apple’s iPhone supply due to a factory shutdown. Before the stoppage, closed-loop production intended to cut down on virus transmission also reduced Foxconn’s manufacturing output.
Popularity of “Pro” models also factors into the shortage. There are plenty of iPhone 14 and 14 Plus models available for sale. They’re in plentiful supply and ready for pickup. Those who choose to have their iPhone 14 or 14 Plus sent to their home only have to wait two days for their smartphone to arrive. For a $9 fee, it can be delivered to your door today.
Cameras differentiate Pro models from the base models. While there are other differences, such as the Dynamic Island, it only seems to captivate hard-code Apple fanatics. The average customer is attracted to the Pro models cameras in search of better selfies and photographs for social media.
Although the Pro models feature a newer processor and a 120 Hz refresh-rate ProMotion display, the cameras captivate customers. You see the difference merely by looking at the phone. The base models have two little lenses, while the Pro models have three large optical sensors and a mysterious LiDAR apparatus.
Apple didn’t design Pro iPhone models for professionals like software engineers, architects, lawyers, and doctors. In fact, most of the professionals I know who fit into these esteemed categories tend to wield old, obsolete iPhones. The professionals Apple caters to are social media creators. Some of them are filthy rich, and others are chasing the dream. Either way, they’re buying up all of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models.
The price difference between the base and Pro models is reasonable. An unlocked iPhone 14 Plus with 128 GB of storage costs $929. An iPhone 14 Pro Max with the same attributes is only $1099 — just $170 more. If you’re paying with zero-interest installments, the price difference is minuscule. For “just a little more,” one gets a vastly improved camera system, a next-generation processor, and a 120 Hz display. The Pro models are a better deal.
Foxconn’s seven-day factory shutdown will end, but iPhone production may take some time to ramp up. Workers fled the company in droves, and even if the facility re-opens, it may take weeks to come back up to speed. Furthermore, closed-loop production practices will likely slow assembly of the most desired iPhone Pro models.
If you’re planning on gifting an iPhone this Christmas, your recipient will most likely desire a Pro model. Unless you’re planning to leave an IOU under the Christmas tree, it’s a good idea to order your iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max immediately.
I’ve seen that many carriers and Costco have sold out of these iconic, in-demand smartphones. I expect shortages of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max smartphones to increase as we approach Christmas.