TSMC estimates referenced by Bloomberg5G smartphones, on average, require 30-40% more semiconductor components than the previous generation. The Chinese company Huawei Technologies, prior to the introduction of the last phase of US sanctions since mid-September, tried to create a stock of components for the production of smartphones, which significantly limited access to them for other market participants. The situation was aggravated by the high demand for laptops, which also need power components, while contract manufacturers have migrated to 300 mm silicon wafers in previous years, reducing the power available for processing 200 mm wafers. It is the latter that is required for the production of power components. As a result, the cost of power electronics has risen, and manufacturers cannot keep up with demand.

According to Bloomberg, Apple now manages to “skip the line”, receiving power components from suppliers as a priority, but it still does not have time to meet all the demand for smartphones of the iPhone 12 series in a timely manner. Older models of the family use control microcircuits to power various elements. The camera uses components made by Texas Instruments and STMicroelectronics, and Qualcomm is supplying Apple with power management for the modems. As part of the iPhone 12, there are also power components of Apple’s own design, none of the other market participants can use them.

The waiting time for the new iPhone 12 Pro when ordering from the American Apple online store has already increased to three weeks, although there are no problems with the availability of the basic iPhone 12 models. There is also a shortage of iPad, which is caused by the increased demand for tablets in self-isolation. In the Russian online store Apple, the delivery time for the iPhone 12 Pro has been increased to two to three weeks; orders for the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max will begin to be accepted tomorrow.