New supplies quench iPhone thirst in Vietnam

Local distributors said they received iPhone 14 shipments in the middle of the week, the latest model that many Vietnamese consumers were waiting for.

Phung Phuong, representative of Mobile Vietnam said the latest shipment was enough to deliver to customers who had pre-ordered the phone, more than a month after its release.

The next batch of the iPhone 14 models is expected to be delivered to Vietnam early January 2023, the peak shopping season because of the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

Nguyen The Kha, Director of Mobile Telecommunications Division of FPT Shop system, said it would be difficult to predict the price of new shipments amidst constant fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and the supply chain.

Retail prices of iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are in the VND28.9-32.5 million ($1,165-1,310) range. Retailers said sales of the two models account for 90% of total iPhone 14 sales.

On November 7, Apple had announced on its website that though there was strong demand for iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models, their shipments would be lower than anticipated. It said customers would experience longer wait times to receive their new products.

According to the U.S. tech giant, Covid-19 restrictions had temporarily impacted its primary phone assembly facility in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou, causing the supply shortage.