New Delhi: Apple is set to launch the new series with iPhone 14. However, according to reports, the launch can be delayed due to the growing tension between China and Taiwan. Apple is TSMC’s top customer, and the company ships chips to Pegatron in China, where iPhones are assembled.
Recently, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. Her visit has put a bigger strain on the China-Taiwan relationship and this might affect Apple as Pelosi visited various manufacturers, including Apple suppliers like TSMC and Pegatron. Moreover, Pegatron’s Vice Chairman and top executives from TSMC were seen with her during the visit. According to Reuters, Apple told suppliers that China has started enforcing a long-standing rule that Taiwanese-made parts and components must be labelled as made either in “Taiwan, China” or “Chinese Taipei.”
Reports say that this could lead to some of the hardware being returned to Taiwan and a delay in the iPhone 14 production as well. On the other hand, Ming-Chi Kuo, a popular Apple analyst, said that according to his survey, the production site will ship the new iPhone 14 at the same time in India as in China. Kuo tweeted, “My latest survey indicates Foxconn’s iPhone production site in India will ship the new 6.1″ iPhone 14 almost simultaneously with China for the first time in 2H22 (India being one quarter or more behind in the past).”
The iPhone 14 was expected to be launched in September 2022, but the rising trade tensions might lead to a delay. Reports say that the iPhone 14 will to cost $799 in the US, which is around Rs 63,638 in India when converted. However, it is expected to have a similar price as that of the iPhone 13, which was launched for Rs Rs 79,990.
