As the launch date of the iPhone 14 approaches, Apple has been preparing to start the mass production of its latest flagship.
But due to the supply issues that the tech company is facing, it decided to expand its roster of suppliers to avoid supply chain shortage.
SG Micro Joins Apple Roster of Suppliers
In a tweet, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that "SG Micro's components have passed the quality certification for the high-end iPhone 14 models."
This means that the Chinese company that specializes in integrated circuits will be part of Apple's roster of suppliers. Kuo said that SG Micro will likely supply components for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
According to 9to5Mac, it is highly expected that Apple will utilize SG Micro's power management integrated circuitry in its new flagship. The integrated circuitry manages the battery and level shifter.
Furthermore, Kuo noted SG Micro will supply components for Apple's high-end products for the first time. This would mean an increased revenue for the Chinese company. Additionally, it would have a positive impact on iPhone 14 shipments.
As per Apple Insider, Kuo is speculating that the partnership of Apple and SG Micro will likely continue in order to avoid future supply chain risks.
The inclusion of SG Micro in Apple's roster of suppliers means the technical capabilities of its chips "have reached the tier-1 level."
As per 9to5Mac, the tier-1 level is necessary for components used by more expensive, high-end electronic devices.
Apple also collaborated with new suppliers early this year. This time, it's for the camera components for the iPhone 14 Pro.
Meanwhile, Kuo countered news telling Apple is experiencing a 10% iPhone chip cut from TSMC. The analyst still believes that the tech company is on schedule in maintaining expectations for iPhone 14 production.
Read Also: iPhone 14 Pro Models To Get Apple's New A16 Chip Exclusively
Will There be a Delay in iPhone 14 Shipment?
In a report of Nikkei Asia in May, it was stated that due to COVID-19 lockdowns in China, iPhone 14 production was delayed by three weeks.
Nikkei Asia's report was validated by analyst Jeff Pu, who said that the most affected unit was iPhone 14 Max. The said smartphone is the new 6.7-inch mid-range model, which would likely replace the iPhone mini.
As per 9to5Mac, Kuo revealed that with the mass production of the iPhone 14, Apple will likely face supply issues. But he believes these face supply issues will only have "limited impact" on shipments of the new smartphones.
According to the analyst, the company have enough time to produce large quantity of phones since it orders millions of components months ahead of the official launch of the new unit.
Despite Kuo's prediction, the ongoing chip shortage might still have an impact on the availability of the iPhone 14 at launch.
In fact, the shipping estimates for the new M2 MacBook Air was moved to late August. Other Apple products are also facing supply issues.
iPhone 14 models are expected to arrive in September. However, we can only expect the major upgrades to be exclusive to the new Pro models.
Related Article: Apple's iPhone 14 Pro Experiences Production Delay Amid COVID-19 Lockdown in China
