Apple faces shortages in power chips for iPhone 12: sources

[TAIPEI] Apple is grappling with a shortage of vital chips that manage power consumption in iPhones and other devices, people with knowledge of the matter said, complicating its ability to meet holiday demand for the latest version of its marquee gadget.

It's unclear to what extent the bottleneck may limit iPhone availability during its crucial launch quarter, typically Apple's busiest. Despite the shortfall, suppliers are likely to prioritise Cupertino, California-based Apple and its power-hungry iPhone 12 over other customers lining up for scarce parts, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private matters.

Increasing demand for silicon across a range of products and supply-chain disruptions from Covid-19 are the main causes of the shortage, according to the people. Main Apple chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co said in October that 5G smartphones require 30 per cent to 40 per cent more chip content versus 4G. That and uncertainty over the course of the pandemic is spurring customers to cache components for fear of running out, especially after major smartphone maker Huawei Technologies had stocked up massively ahead of a September deadline for US sanctions.

The stockpiling compounds lingering issues across a global electronics industry still recovering from rolling lockdowns that snarled transport routes and cut off workers from factories earlier this year. Disruptions are expected to persist over the next two quarters, the people said.

Power management is more important in the iPhone 12 than for its predecessors given additional camera features and 5G capabilities, increasing Apple's need for these components. It recently launched four 5G models and analysts expect strong consumer demand for the devices. During a recent conference call with analysts, Apple chief executive officer (CEO) Tim Cook warned about supply constraints for the iPhone 12, Mac, iPad and some Apple Watch models - although he didn't specifically mention power-management chips.

Supply issues for the iPhone are "not a surprise" because Apple has just begun to ramp up production, the CEO said. "It's hard to predict" how long the supply constraints will last, he added. An Apple spokesperson declined to comment.

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Apple has multiple power-management chip suppliers, according to a recent teardown from iFixit. The iPhone 12 Pro uses a component from Texas Instruments to control power to the camera system, along with a similar chip from STMicroelectronics and one from Qualcomm for the 5G modem.

There's also a power-management part designed by Apple in this handset. In 2018, Apple acquired technology and other assets from Dialog Semiconductor for US$600 million to build its own power-management chips.

The disruption to iPhone production comes amid questions over Apple's ability to galvanise demand for its newest gadget in China, following its worst quarterly revenue performance there since 2014. Investors are concerned the company is losing momentum to home-grown rivals like Huawei and Xiaomi in one of its most critical markets.

In the US, a check of Apple's website shows that new iPhone 12 Pro orders won't arrive to customers until the end of November or early December, while the regular iPhone 12 isn't showing any delay. Many iPad models are showing deliveries between mid-November and the end of the month, while some Apple Watch models are showing delivery times in late November.

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