Demand for the iPhone 13 is outstripping supply, resulting in long wait times for orders on Apple's website, especially for the iPhone 13 Pro model.

A few days ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company is "working with enthusiasm" to increase supply.

According to "multiple sources," Apple has reduced iPad production by 50% over the past two months, and instead shared components were used to keep the device flying off the iPhone 13 production line.

The report adds that production of older iPhones has also been slowed to redirect parts to the newest handsets, which may explain why even the venerable old iPhone 11 is showing a delay of two to three weeks.

Currently, this strategy has not borne fruit in any obvious way, as the regular iPhone 13 is expected to ship in 5-7 days and the Pro model within 3-4 weeks. Nevertheless, there is no telling how long the lead time would have been had Apple not taken action.

The problem with this strategy, however, is that while the supply of the iPhone 13 may be smoother, the problem is more acute in the tablet sector. The report also notes that the continued popularity of remote working and learning has led to a surge in demand for various iPad models.

The upshot of all this is that if you're buying an iPad this Christmas, you'd better do it sooner rather than later. A quick look at Apple's website shows that the iPad Air 2020 is two to three weeks behind, while the new iPad mini 6 (2021) and iPad 10.2 (2021) are both four to five weeks behind. Indeed, both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro are currently in stock, but this will not be helpful for everyone, as Apple's most expensive tablets start at $799.

The global chip shortage is affecting everything from car production to PS5 restocking, and recovery may take a while, with some thinking it may be 2023. If anything, this prediction seems optimistic if a company with buying power like Apple is struggling at the end of 2021.