A rumor that the development of the next iPhone was behind schedule brings attention to Apple‘s efforts to reduce its dependency on China, as the country’s largest city, Shanghai, entered the eighth week of a lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus).
According to Nikkei Asia, Apple is pressuring suppliers to get back on track in order to avoid a delay in the launch of the iPhone 14, but some have complained that the government is taking too long to remove restrictions in the city.
Apple’s iPhone 14 is being developed by contract manufacturers Foxconn and Pegatron, according to the media source, with mass production expected to begin in late August.
To fulfill the manufacturing target, engineering verification tests must be finished by the end of June, according to Nikkei Asia, which also stated that one of the four iPhone 14 variants is three weeks behind schedule.
Due to the restrictions, Pegatron paused production in its Shanghai and Kunshan plants earlier this year, and Foxconn halted work at its Shenzhen factories.
Related: Apple is rumored to be considering Vietnam as a home for AirPods assembly
Apple officials warned last month that supply concerns in China might impact revenue by as much as $8 billion in the current fiscal quarter.
