Apple is facing a global shortage of certain components for some of its MacBook and iPad models, prompting tech giant Cupertino and its suppliers to delay production of the products, according to a new report from Nikkei Asia.
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According to the report, MacBook production is hampered by the lack of chips mounted on the circuit board before final assembly, which is a key step in the overall production process. The report adds that iPad is production is affected due to deficiencies in display and display of components.
In response to production pushed back, Apple postponed component orders for the two devices in the second half of the year. While the production of the MacBook and iPad is directly affected, the production of the iPhone is not affected so far. However, industry sources say the supply of “iPhone” components is limited.
Production plans for Apple’s iconic iPhones have so far not been affected by the lack of supply, although the supply of components for the devices is “quite tight”, according to two sources. Overall, the lack of components remains a supply chain issue for Apple and has not yet had an impact on consumer product availability, Nikkei said.
Apple is expected to launch new iPad Pro models and possibly a redesigned MacBook Pro with Apple silicon in the coming months. Bloomberg reported that the new iPad models with drastically improved performance and a new mini-LED display are just a few weeks after launch.
While Nikkei does not specify which iPad and MacBook models are affected due to the shortage, it certainly seems plausible that the delayed assembly of the products could lead to a form of delayed product announcement from Apple.