Availability of the iPhone 18 Pro series as well as new Macs and iPads could take a hit this fall. Apple admitted its supply chain is facing challenges.<\/p>\n
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The result could be lengthy wait times for this fall\u2019s hottest new models. And an analyst warned that there could be price hikes for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, too.<\/p>\n
Apple product demand strains its production capacity \u00a0<\/h2>\n
The AI boom is putting unprecedented pressure on the global chip supply chain. Data centers need huge numbers of cutting-edge processors along with enormous amounts of DRAM and NAND memory, resulting in fewer components available for consumer electronics. Even Apple, with its massive purchasing power and long-term supplier agreements, is feeling the squeeze.<\/p>\n
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During an earnings call with investors on Thursday, Apple CEO Tim Cook<\/a> said supply constraints will hit the company hard this fall.<\/p>\n \u201cThe projected supply constraints in the September quarter affect iPhone, Mac and iPad, and so we\u2019re seeing some very significant constraints currently, with limited flexibility in the supply chain to remedy,\u201d said Cook.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The global shortage in memory chips that\u2019s been dubbed RAMageddon isn\u2019t the only problem. Cook also called out limited availability of the advanced chip nodes used in the latest Apple silicon processors.<\/p>\n At the same time, Apple has products that customers really want. Cook spoke of \u201can incredibly strong iPhone and Mac product cycle\u201d pushing demand beyond what Apple can actually make. He called out the MacBook Neo and iPhone 17 during Thursday\u2019s call.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Apple customers will be directly affected by Apple\u2019s supply constraints. Component shortages are likely to frustrate those hoping to buy the company\u2019s most popular products this fall.<\/p>\n With demand expected to remain strong and supplies of advanced processors and memory chips constrained, new iPhones, Macs and other flagship devices could sell out quickly after launch. That would likely translate into shipping delays stretching for weeks, especially for higher-end configurations and popular colors, making it a good year for buyers to place their orders as early as possible.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The rumor arrives right after Apple warned investors about chip and component shortages. The company also said supply will be tight for the iPhone, iPad and Mac this September.<\/p>\n Another result could be increased costs.\u00a0In a research note<\/a> published Friday on X, analyst Jeff Pu predicted the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could see a price hike of $250 to $300 versus the current versions. Do the math, and the iPhone 18 Pro could start between $1,349 and $1,399, while the Pro Max could reach $1,449 to $1,499. Pu\u2019s prediction echoes what other analysts said earlier<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\nBuying a new iPhone or Mac this fall? Prepare for long wait times.<\/h3>\n
iPhone prices on the rise, too<\/h3>\n
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