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Apple reportedly asked some suppliers to reduce production of components for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. A separate report puts October component orders 15%–20% below Apple’s original expectations and links the change to weaker demand and higher costs, but Apple has not confirmed that percentage or its cause.
What Apple reportedly changed
Reuters reported on October 9, 2026, that Apple had told some suppliers to cut production of components for the newly launched iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Reuters’ report, republished by KSL, did not specify the size of the reduction or explain why Apple made it.
The more specific figure comes from Investing.com, which attributed its account to Nikkei Asia and people familiar with the matter. It said Apple had become more conservative about shipments from early September and that October component orders were 15%–20% below what Apple had originally expected.
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What 15%–20% refers to
The reported percentage compares October component orders with Apple’s original expectations. It is not a reported 15%–20% reduction in all iPhone production, total shipments, or completed-device sales. Reuters independently supports the narrower claim that some suppliers were told to reduce component production, but its account does not verify the percentage.
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- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
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Why orders may have been reduced
Nikkei Asia’s explanation, as relayed by Investing.com, combines weaker-than-expected demand for the new iPhone line with soaring memory and component prices and price increases. That is a reported explanation, not a cause confirmed by Apple or independently established by the Reuters account.
A changed launch schedule is another factor
The same report also points to a shift in the launch schedule: the premium iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Duo came first, while the base iPhone 18 and an upgraded iPhone Air were expected in early 2027. That timing could affect how suppliers’ component orders are planned. The available reporting does not establish how much of the reported order adjustment, if any, reflects the schedule rather than demand or cost pressure.
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- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
What is known about memory and component costs
TrendForce estimated on August 10, 2026, that the bill of materials (BOM) for the 256 GB iPhone 18 Pro would rise by about 38% year over year. It also estimated that memory’s share of the 256 GB iPhone Pro BOM rose from around 10% a year earlier to approximately 34% in the third quarter of 2026. These are industry estimates of component costs, not figures disclosed by Apple.
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- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
How strong is the evidence?
- Supplier component cuts: Reuters reported that Apple told some suppliers to reduce component production for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.
- The 15%–20% figure and reasons: These details come from Nikkei Asia as relayed by Investing.com, which attributed the information to people familiar with the matter.
- Cost estimates: TrendForce’s BOM and memory-share numbers are estimates, not Apple-reported unit costs.
- Apple’s comments: Cook’s July remarks address broader memory costs and supply constraints, not this specific October order change.
Apple has not confirmed the reported order-cut percentage, the demand impact, or the explanation for the change. The best-supported conclusion is therefore limited: a supplier component adjustment was reported, while its exact scale and cause remain unconfirmed by Apple.
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