COVID-19: Restrictions set on number of iPhones you can buy at a time

Although Apple has reopened its 42 stores in China, the COVID-19 pandemic has definitely affected the company. As the crisis continues, and despite Apple trying its best to mitigate the effects of the crisis on its supply chain, a limit has been set on the number of iPhones that can be bought.

This includes the new iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. Now, only two units can be purchased at a time. According to Mashable, the restrictions also apply to the AirPods Pro but not the AirPods.

Currently, if you head on over to the Apple Online Store, and place more than two units of the iPhone 11 in a basket. There is a message prompt that states that “a maximum of 2 iPhone 11 can be purchased per customer. Please adjust the total quantity of iPhone 11 in your order before checking out.”

However, when it is reduced to two iPhone 11’s, the shipping works and it only takes seven days to deliver. But are people really buying more than two iPhones at a time now?

Also, it looks like Apple didn’t place a limit on the total number of devices you can purchase, so you can still buy two of each model at once. But, if you really need to bulk purchase more than two units of the same iPhone model right now, retailers on Lazada aren’t setting a limit on the number of devices you can purchase at a go.

On top of this limitation, Apple recently announced that it will keep its stores, besides the ones in China, closed indefinitely.

Currently, because of the movement control order, only essential services are up and running. Pharmacies, ATM’s, clinics, supermarkets, wet markets and banks are still open but everything else will remain closed until 31st of March 2020. According to Bloomberg, this restriction has also affected Apple’s supply chain because of companies like Murata Manufacturing Co., Renesas Electronics Corp. and Ibiden Co that produce circuit boards and chips, that have had to cease their operations.

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