China-made phones off speed dial as supply chains disrupted amid coronavirus outbreak

Kolkata: Supplies of iPhones and other handset brands are running low at shops in India as disruptions stemming from the Covid-19 outbreak in China start to bite. Also hit are Xiaomi, TCL and Realme phones, said multiple cellphone and electronic retailers. In the past week to 10 days, only 10-20% of the usual number have been sent to stores, they said.

Apple is the worst hit with many stores saying the iPhone 11series has almost dried up as have some models of the Apple Watch, according to three senior industry executives.

Supplies of the locally manufactured iPhone XR and 7 are not impacted, they said TCL and Xiaomi televisions too are in short supply and Xiaomi is postponing its entry into air-conditioners by a few weeks.