Apple is cutting production of the iPhone 12 mini in the first half of this year, Nikkei Asia reports. Planned production of the smallest iPhone 12 model was reduced by 70 percent or more in the first half of this year, representing the bulk of a 20 percent cut in total iPhone 12 production. Some suppliers have been asked to temporarily stop production of specific mini components of the iPhone 12, while other parts are being relocated to the Pro and Pro Max, Nikkei reports.
Along with the news about the production of the iPhone, Nikkei also reports that Apple has postponed the production of two new Apple silicon MacBooks. Originally scheduled to go into mass production in May or June, the laptops will now be manufactured in the second half of the year. NikkeiApple’s report does not reveal which of Apple’s rumors might be these MacBooks.
Despite the cuts, iPhone production is still scheduled to increase overall compared to 2020. Apple plans to produce 75 million devices in the first half of the year and 230 million phones over the course of 2021. Part of the reason is because Apple was overly aggressive in reserving production capacity before the global chip shortage. The shortage is now creating problems for companies inside and outside the technology industry.
NikkeiApple’s report is the latest indication that Apple’s miniature addition to its smartphone line has not lived up to expectations. Last month, Reuters reported data from analysts who claim that sales of the 12 mini accounted for only 5% of Apple’s smartphone sales in the first half of January. Nikkei reports that at the end of last year, the mini accounted for 10 to 15 percent of orders for Apple’s iPhone 12 series.
While we liked the iPhone 12 mini when we looked at it, the general demand for smartphones is tending to phones with larger screens. And while the 12 mini also benefits from being cheaper than the other devices in the iPhone 12 line, customers have the option to buy the previous year’s models if they want to save money.