Apple CEO Tim Cook: iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Demand 'Far Outstripping' Supply

by

Apple CEO Tim Cook commented on the balance between supply and demand for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus during today's earnings call, stating that demand is far outstripping supply despite a satisfactory production ramp-up. Cook noted that available data makes it unclear as to when supply will catch up with demand, and that the company was "not close" to having a balance between supply and demand at the end of Q4 2014.

iphone_6_iphone_6_plus
Supplies for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have remained tight since the launch of both devices last month, as new iPhone 6 orders still show a shipping estimate of 7-10 business days while the iPhone 6 Plus is still showing a shipping delay of 3-4 weeks. It is worth noting that the iPhone 6 has been mostly available at Apple's own stores and other retail locations, while the iPhone 6 Plus has a constrained supply in-store.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Apple delayed plans to mass produce the larger 12.9-inch iPad in order to shift its resources towards the iPhone 6 Plus as it has remained unsatisfied with the production output from its suppliers for its larger iPhone. A report from earlier this month also stated that the company is shifting its production balance towards the iPhone 6 Plus which may gradually improve its supplies of the larger phone.

Tag: Tim Cook
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Black

Apple Just Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever After Beats

Thursday January 29, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today confirmed to Reuters that it has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup that is working on artificial intelligence technology for audio. Apple paid close to $2 billion for Q.ai, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone and audio brand Beats in 2014. Q.ai has...
Read Full Article • 134 comments
imac video apple feature

Apple Unveils First New Products of 2026

Monday January 26, 2026 1:55 pm PST by
Apple today introduced its first two physical products of 2026: a second-generation AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop for the Apple Watch. Read our coverage of each announcement to learn more:Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More Apple Introduces New Black Unity Apple Watch BandBoth the new AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided...
Read Full Article
iPhone 5s

iPhone 5s Gets New Software Update 13 Years After Launch

Monday January 26, 2026 3:56 pm PST by
Alongside iOS 26.2.1, Apple today released an updated version of iOS 12 for devices that are still running that operating system update, eight years after the software was first released. iOS 12.5.8 is available for the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 6, meaning Apple is continuing to support these devices for 13 and 12 years after launch, respectively. The iPhone 5s came out in September 2013,...
Read Full Article • 131 comments
Apple Creator Studio

Apple's Next Launch is Today

Tuesday January 27, 2026 2:39 pm PST by
Update: Apple Creator Studio is now available. Apple Creator Studio launches this Wednesday, January 28. The all-in-one subscription provides access to the Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage apps, with U.S. pricing set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year. A subscription to Apple Creator Studio also unlocks "intelligent features" and "premium...
Read Full Article
apple silicon 1 feature

Apple Responds to Skyrocketing RAM and Storage Chip Prices

Thursday January 29, 2026 2:40 pm PST by
On an earnings call with equity analysts today, Apple CEO Tim Cook responded to fast-rising RAM and SSD storage chip prices in the supply chain. Prices for RAM and NAND storage chips are surging lately due to high demand from companies building out AI servers, resulting in supply constraints. Cook said that rising memory chip prices had a "minimal impact" on Apple's gross margin in the...
Read Full Article • 67 comments

Top Rated Comments

Dezryth Avatar
Dezryth
147 months ago
The thing is, is it really worth quoting "fastest roll-out ever" every iPhone release though?

Why not strip back with the countries, and give demand to the countries that need it the most. Allocate stock properly, and catch up quicker.

Whilst it's not entirely fair for more countries to wait longer.. but you catch my drift right?

These kinds of posts really bother me. Should the entire world wait until every American who feels entitled has received their iPhone before they become available in other countries?

I'm from Southern California so I know the personality types that feel they 'need' their new shiny phone, but you can wait. Just curious, how would you determine which countries 'need' the phone the most?
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lotzosushi Avatar
lotzosushi
147 months ago
It would be interesting to know how many people switched back from Android because of the larger screen.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stephroll Avatar
Stephroll
147 months ago
Thank god they only put 1GB of RAM in those ..imagine the wait if ....
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BCWorld Avatar
BCWorld
147 months ago
HEY TIM COOK YOU LEFT OUT THE CORES IN THE NEW 2014 MAC MINI!!
ARE YOU SHORT ON QUAD CORES TOO??????????????????????:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Keirasplace Avatar
Keirasplace
147 months ago
Maybe that would make the phone "older" though in the sense that they can be designing and engineering for a longer period before starting production if they don't start way ahead of launch.

And they would never want to produce too many so that it would appear that they weren't a hot commodity. I love Apple but, let's face it, the lines would be shorter if people knew they could just stroll in and buy one or order online a few days after the crowds die down. Just in time manufacturing principles also.

Anyone who thinks Apple likes people to wait 4 weeks for their phone is just silly. Its the engineering, manufacturing rampup that takes up most of the time. Also, producing 50M phones, tying up 15B in inventory (not producing your other phones in the process!!) seems a bit idiotic. The fact that they're able to manufacture and ship 80-100M phones in 4 months is just incredible as is.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
koruki Avatar
koruki
147 months ago
I got a 128GB 6 for my wife cause her 64gb 5S keeps getting used up with our daughters photos videos. We're both not happy with the size bump. I realise there is a demand for a larger screen but the 5S is perfect for us and so many others. They could of released the 6plus and an updated 5S size. If there was a choice I'd love a new 5S with 128GB and A8.

The size they so proudly boosted about just a year ago is now abandoned, ignoring it worked perfectly for so many customers all these years. To make it worse they even removed the 64GB 5S from the store for those who prefer it's size.

They should release a version like the sports car version in their line up. 5S size, 128GB, latest CPU, same thickness as current 5S with thicker battery which resolves the protruding camera issue (so unnecessary if you ask me in the 6). Make the antenna out of stainless steel again like the 4 as my 5 antenna dents like play-dough when dropped.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments