Apple stops iPhone 14 Plus production to re-assess consumer demand

Last month, reports emerged that Apple had cut iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus production because of poor sales, with Foxconn told to focus on the iPhone 14 Pro series instead. For reference, the report arrived over a week before Apple started shipping the iPhone 14 Plus, which has a 6.7-inch display and a 4,323 mAh battery, the only differences between it and the iPhone 14 other than the obvious weight and dimension uplift.

According to The Information, it has learned that Apple has already told some suppliers to cease producing iPhone 14 Plus-specific components. Citing supply chain sources, the website claims that production will not re-commence until after Apple re-evaluates demand. Reputedly, some suppliers are building between 70-90% fewer iPhone 14 Plus units than Apple originally forecast. Still, Apple is alleged to have committed to introducing an iPhone 15 Plus next year alongside the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Incidentally, Apple also built two 'mini' iPhones, despite the underwhelming reception the iPhone 12 mini received compared to the rest of the iPhone 12 series. Ultimately, it remains to be seen why the uptake of the iPhone 14 Plus has been far short of Apple's expectations. Potentially, the answer could be a combination of a few factors.

On the one hand, the iPhone 14 Plus offers few advantages over the iPhone 14 but costs US$100 more than its smaller sibling. On the other hand, the iPhone 14 Plus is a considerably less capable iPhone than the Pro Max but for only a US$200 saving. While there is a greater price gap between the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 14 Pro Max than the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14, adding US$200 onto US$899 gets you a superior display, a newer chipset and improved rear cameras.

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