iPhone 12 Restocked on Tmall Hours after Removal, Possibly Due to High Demand and Chip Shortages

Apple’s iPhone 12 and 12 Pro went back on sale on Taobao’s Tmall Apple flagship store Thursday afternoon, hours after the series was removed without an official explanation, which could be due to a shortage of vital part supplies. 

Apple’s iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro launched in China on Oct. 23, and in addition to Apple stores and its Tmall store, the series is still on sale on JD.com, Suning.com and Gome.com.cn. Apple’s new flagship series has attracted massive interests among Chinese costumers, and fans are still waiting to get their iPhone 12 Pro smartphones due to high demands and supply shortages. 

According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is struggling with a major power chip shortage that limits its capacity to meet holiday demands. These vital chips and scarce parts manage power consumption in iPhones and other Apple devices. With the first-time 5G feature and the enhanced camera setup, power management becomes increasingly essential to the iPhone 12 series compared to its predecessors. 

The main reason for the shortage is the growing demands for silicon in a variety of products, in combination with the disruptions of supply chains from Covid-19. 

SEE ALSO：Apple iPhone 12 Launch Countdown: China Sees Significant iPhone Upgrade Potential

Apple’s main chip supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. said in October that each 5G phone requires 30% to 40% more semiconductors than 4G models. The uncertainty of the global economy during the pandemic, and Huawei’s stockpiling of chips in September before US sanctions compounded the crisis that electronics companies, Apple included, are facing.

Apple’s iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max will go on sale 9 p.m. Friday in China in Apple stores and on its Tmall.com flagship store.