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If you’re thinking about buying a new Apple iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max for the holidays, you may have to settle for a color or storage size that you don’t prefer.
Reuters (opens in new tab) reports that production at Apple’s key assembly plants in China has come to a standstill, and we’re seeing the best iPhone models with significant restrictions and even months-long shipping delays.
Apparently Foxconn, Apple’s main manufacturer in China, has experienced delays due to COVID-19 and the country’s strict policies to contain the spread of the virus. During Apple’s most recent revenue call, according to Business Insider (opens in new tab)CEO Tim Cook blamed lagging iPhone sales on supply chain problems, saying, “We’re limited today, so we’re working very hard to meet demand.”
We’ve checked every model of Apple iPhone 14 available today, including the iPhone 14 Plus, the iPhone 14 Pro, and the Pro Max, to see what we could buy from Apple’s online store today. We found that the two cheaper iPhone models, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, are readily available in every storage capacity and in every color. We can have one shipped today or pick one up from a nearby store.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Pro models are much harder to find, at least if we’re picky about color or storage, or both. Every iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max device has a lead time with delivery between November 23 and December 1. Apple seems confident that iPhones will ship well before the holidays, but not in time for Thanksgiving.
There are also iPhone 14 Pro models in stock in our local stores, but only sporadically. Our US office is located in the New York City area and we are looking for stores in the New York suburbs north of the city.
What’s the bottom line? Every color of iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, and every storage capacity, can be picked up somewhere, but it can be difficult to match
If we want an iPhone 14 Pro in Deep Purple, a nearby store has a 128 GB model available and another Apple store has the 256 GB model. The larger 512 and 1TB models are not available in stores near us. The Deep Purple is the most widely available iPhone 14 Pro model of the dozens of stores we surveyed.
There are two stores that have a 1TB model iPhone 14 Pro but only in the gold color. No other highest-capacity color is now available in stores. The only gold iPhone 14 Pro we can find in stores is that 1TB model.
If you are looking for an iPhone 14 Pro Max, you will find the phone more easily if you opt for a higher storage capacity. A purple 14 Pro Max device can be found in all stores today except 128 GB. You can now get it up to 1TB.
In fact, we found the 1TB iPhone 14 Pro Max available in every color except silver. For the silver device, we only found a 256GB model available. With a capacity of 256 GB, any iPhone 14 Pro Max color is available for pick-up today at our stores near us.
What’s the bottom line? Every color of iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, and every storage capacity, can be picked up somewhere, but it can be difficult to match your favorite permutation. The iPhone 14 Pro is easiest to find in purple. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is easiest to find if you want to spend $1,599 today to buy the 1TB model.
Analysis: What should we do now?!
This delivery problem is surprising, especially for Apple. Apple CEO Tim Cook was the former supply chain expert at the company and has steered the Apple ship into incredibly tight control over inventory. Only a global pandemic and catastrophe can stop Apple from meeting demand expectations while Cook is in charge.
If you have to settle, we highly recommend taking whatever storage capacity you want over the color. You can always get a nice case for your phone or stick a nice sticker on it. You won’t be able to add more space for valuable videos and TV shows later.
Also keep in mind that if you break your iPhone and it needs to be replaced, the fastest replacement option may not be the color you bought. If you want to quickly replace a broken purple iPhone 14 Pro, you may end up getting space black after all. Color matters most in the Apple Store, not in your pocket.
While you’re considering your options, you might want to check out our list of the best smartphones.