Security situation threatens iPhone 16 launch: Stock shortages expected

Flight cancellations due to the security situation in the north may lead to stock shortages of the iPhone 16 on its launch day in Israel.

  iPhone 16 (photo credit: Yinon Ben Shushan)
iPhone 16
(photo credit: Yinon Ben Shushan)

The launch of the iPhone 16 in Israel, scheduled for tomorrow (Friday), may be affected by the security situation in the north. Icon Group, Apple's representative in Israel, has informed retailers across the country, such as Machsaney Hashmal and Shikma Electric, that due to logistical difficulties and flight cancellations, not all of the allocated units will arrive in time for launch day.

Additional sources at Walla! Technology have confirmed that flight cancellations may lead to shortages of the new devices. Icon Group has assured that the missing stock will be replenished in the coming days, but it remains unclear how this will affect the availability of devices for customers on launch day. This development follows previous reports of high demand for the iPhone 16 in Israel, which may further complicate finding devices in the days immediately after the launch.

In the meantime, the Dynamika chain announced that the first stock of the iPhone 16 series arrived today (Thursday) in Israel, which will be distributed to the first customers who pre-ordered. Prices in various retail chains in Israel are expected to start at around NIS 3,999 for the base model, the iPhone 16 with 128 GB of storage, and go up to approximately NIS 7,999 for the iPhone 16 Pro Max with 1 terabyte of storage.