Apple: Expect shipping delays to continue this holiday season

iPhone 13 Pro at Apple Store via Getty Images

(Image credit: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Not even Apple is allowed from the supply chain problems that are causing some of your favorite gadgets to fall out of stock at retailers. Apple says supply constraints knocked around $6 billion off its revenue during the company'south September quarter, as it struggled to keep upwardly with the demand for iPhones, Macs and iPads.

And that figure could exist dwarfed past what limits to supply terminate up costing Apple during the holiday flavour. "We believe that by the time nosotros finish the [December] quarter that the constraints will be larger than the $6 billion that nosotros experienced in [September]," CEO Tim Cook told Wall Street analysts as Apple tree announced its quarterly performance yesterday (Oct. 28).

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Apple tree'south not exactly scrounging around for loose change. Even with the supply issues, the company withal posted record revenue for the September quarter, tallying $83.iv billion in sales. While that's upwardly 29% from the same quarter a year ago, information technology'southward lower than what Wall Street analysts were expecting, which is why yous may run across Apple's stock cost taking a dip later what otherwise sounds like a stellar quarterly operation.

Investors could too be spooked past Apple'due south guidance for the three months covering the vacation shopping flavor. One time again, Apple'due south expecting to set a record for revenue growth, though it's avoiding an exact forecast as it has during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But Apple'south assuming that supply shortages will take an even greater impact on its bottom line during the current quarter. And that makes sense — this will be the first total quarter of sales for all those products Apple announced in September, along with initial sales for the just-unveiled MacBook Pro models with Apple's latest M1 Pro and M1 Max fries.

Apple tree inventory: What we know headed into the holidays

We've been tracking the available inventory for top Apple products, and it certainly reflects a situation where need is exceeding supply. Every bit of a few days ago, co-ordinate to our iPhone 13 stock cheque, ordering an iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 mini meant a delay of at least a week earlier you could expect your new model. Add an additional ii weeks for the iPhone 13 Pro models.

It's an even more severe story with the latest MacBook Pro inventory, particularly if you attempt to configure your own model. Some of those machines won't arrive until Dec.

Apple'southward situation is not unique, as anyone hunting for a PS5 will tell you. I of the effects of the global COVID pandemic has been a bit shortage caused by companies initially scaling dorsum orders, just to realize that they underestimated need.

Apple's problem isn't the newer chips that power its products. Rather, Melt told investors, it'due south the legacy nodes that are included in many electronic products. Often, Apple is competing with other companies that demand the aforementioned components for their devices, which is what's triggering delays.

The lesser line for consumers is to place your orders early if you're hoping to go your gear in time for the holidays. You lot tin also bank check out our Blackness Friday deals 2021 hub where nosotros're monitoring sought-subsequently gear that'southward however in stock.

Despite its warning about supply constraints, Apple tree struck a largely optimistic pose for its near-term finances. Stiff demand and reports of high client satisfaction will do that for a visitor.

"I practice feel very comfy with our operational team," Cook said. "I think nosotros've got a world-class one, and I'm sure they're doing everything they can practice to collapse cycle times and ameliorate yields and do all the things that you can do in addition to fundamental capacity investment to remedy the situation."

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Philip Michaels is a senior editor at Tom'due south Guide. He has strong opinions virtually Apple, the Oakland Athletics and old movies. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.