Apple Expects Major Hardware Shortages Heading Into The Fall

Apple just posted a massive third quarter, but it is preparing investors for some bumps in the road ahead. During its Q3 2026 earnings call, chief executive Tim Cook warned that supply chain problems will significantly impact revenue during the crucial September quarter. The technology giant simply cannot make enough devices to keep up with how many people want to buy them. The company points to soaring demand rather than supplier failures Cook made it very clear that the current shortage is a "demand forecast issue" rather than a failure by manufacturing partners. Apple simply did not expect the current lineup of phones and computers to sell this well. The supply chain lacks the flexibility to suddenly ramp up production for the advanced chips needed to build these machines. The shortages will heavily impact the availability of the iPhone, the iPad, and the entire Mac lineup over the next three months. Because it cannot simply order more inventory on a whim, the September revenue numbers will be noticeably lower than what they could have been if store shelves were fully stocked. On top of the supply headaches, the brand is also facing rising component costs. Cook noted that the price of memory went up during the June quarter, and the company expects those costs to climb even higher throughout September. Despite strong overall growth, these combined hurdles show that even the biggest hardware maker in the world cannot always build things fast enough.