Apple Apple’s development schedule has been delayed due to the blockade of Covid in China – Nikkei

Apple Inc tells its suppliers to speed up iPhone development after severe blockades in China COVID-19 hamper graphics for at least one of the new phones

Apple Inc has told its suppliers to speed up iPhone development after severe blockades in China over COVID-19 hampered the schedule for at least one of the new phones, Nikkei said on Wednesday, citing a number of sources familiar with the matter.

Blockages due to China’s zero COVID-19 policy prompted iPhone maker Pegatron Corp to suspend operations at its Shanghai and Kunshan plants earlier this year.

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Shanghai’s financial center remains largely paralyzed by a nationwide blockade, now in its seventh week, as Beijing intensifies quarantine efforts.

Apple predicted bigger problems last month as the blocking of COVID-19 boosted production and demand in China, with the war in Ukraine added to the iPhone maker’s problems.

In the worst case scenario, Apple expects the production schedule and initial production volumes of the new phones to be affected, the business daily Nikkei reported.

Foxconn declined to comment until Apple and Pegatron responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.