Apple's iPhone development schedule hit by China lockdowns

Silicon Valley giant caught off guard by sudden imposition of anti-COVID measures

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The iPhone 14 line remains in the engineering verification test stage, at which suppliers design the mechanical parts and manufacturing flow. (Source photo by Ken Kobayashi and Reuters)

LAULY LI and CHENG TING-FANG, Nikkei Asia tech correspondents

TAIPEI -- Development of at least one of Apple's new flagship iPhones for this year has fallen behind schedule due to disruptions from the monthlong COVID lockdowns in China, Nikkei Asia has learned.

Apple has told suppliers to speed up product development efforts to make up for the lost time, which in the worst-case scenario could impact the manufacturing schedule and initial production volumes of the new phones, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

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