The global chip shortage has affected everything from cars to gaming consoles, and now it may affect the production of Apple's iPhone 13

Bloomberg reports that Apple has been forced to cut production of its latest flagship model due to a shortage of components Apple reportedly wanted to produce 90 million iPhones by the end of this year, but that number now appears to be down to 80 million

According to Bloomberg, Apple is having supply problems with chips from Broadcom and Texas Instruments, which are responsible for many of the key components inside the iPhone These components include chips that handle display power management, USB connectivity, wireless components, Face ID, etc

Other Apple suppliers are also said to be facing shortages, although it is not clear to what extent

The good news here is that 80 million iPhone 13 units is still a huge number However, with iPhone 13 delivery estimates already receding, it may be more difficult to get iPhones before the holidays, if not on the same level as the problems surrounding the PS5 and Xbox Series X

CEO Tim Cook had already warned during Apple's Q3 earnings call that the company could suffer from chip supply issues, saying, "Whatever situation we are in, we will do everything we can to mitigate it"

Right now, that means reducing iPhone 13 production for the time being However, Apple is undoubtedly looking for ways to avoid possible supply problems and get as many iPhone 13s into the hands of consumers as possible

The global chip shortage is the result of many factors One of them is Donald Trump's trade war with China, which has affected the ability of Chinese chipmakers to procure what they need for their operations However, the COVID-19 epidemic played a larger role The global lockdown has increased demand for consumer electronics at the same time that production has been halted, or at least slowed

It is not clear when the shortage will end, but Sony and Microsoft, whose ability to meet demand for next-generation game consoles has been severely affected by supply chain problems, claim it is likely to last until late next year

Until then, your best bet is to be patient and also be sure to check our best iPhone 13 deals page and our PS5 restock and Xbox Series X restock trackers