Apple is reportedly scaling back production of the iPhone 14 Plus due to low sales, according to a report from The Information on Tuesday. The tech giant debuted the new phone during its “Far Out” event in September, alongside the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Officially released on October 7, the iPhone 14 Plus is essentially the same as the iPhone 14, but with a larger screen size and a higher starting price of $899. According to The Information, Apple ordered a manufacturer in China to stop production on the phone, while two suppliers in the country were told to cut production by 70% and 90%, respectively. According to the report, demand is low, with some customers leaning towards the iPhone 14 Pro model as it costs $100 more and comes with additional features.
Last month, Apple abandoned plans to ramp up production of the iPhone 14, according to a Bloomberg report. The current economic landscape has been a factor in lower demand for both smartphones, forcing Apple and other companies to rethink how they manage, promote and sell their inventory. However, Bloomberg noted that compared to other flagship phones in the range, the iPhone 14 Pro models are in high demand among customers.
Despite this, data research firm Canalys released its most recent report, which found a decline in smartphone shipments in the third quarter. Analysts attributed the decline in demand to changes in consumer spending priorities. The company says the downward shift will likely continue for the next six to nine months, but the holiday season may lead to an uptick in smartphone sales.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.