iPad assembly plants in China could be impacted by power outages ahead of the launch of the new models this fall.
Per noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Kuo tweeted on the effects of power outages in China’s southwestern Sichuan province. The outages have been caused by industrial electricity rationing amid a severe heatwave.
Kuo said that the temporary power outage may affect iPad assembly facilities in Chengdu and Chongqing, operated by Foxconn and Compal. He added that it is “difficult to assess impacts on production currently,” but its impact should be limited if the power outage can end on August 20. Flexible production scheduling could mitigate the effects of power outages, but it is not clear how iPad supplies may be hit if power does not return by August 20.
Kuo also warned that similar incidents in the coming months could affect shipments of Apple’s new devices during the company’s peak season when new products are released to the public. It’s thought that the next-gen iPad Pro models will offer new features such as MagSafe wireless charging, upgraded cameras, two new connectors, and an M2 chip. It’s also thought that the tenth-generation entry-level iPad could feature a new design and a USB-C port. The updated tablets are expected to be revealed at an Apple event in October.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via MacRumors, Reuters, and @mingchikuo