Sources: amid lockdowns, Chinese staff and suppliers contributed more complex work to the iPhone 14 than to past models as Apple tries to cut its China reliance (Tripp Mickle/New York Times)

Tripp Mickle / New York Times:
Apple signs a multiyear NFL deal to have Apple Music replace Pepsi as the main sponsor for the Super Bowl halftime show; sources: the NFL wanted to charge ~$50M  —  Apple’s pursuit of an N.F.L. media package has broadened to include a sponsorship of one of TV’s most-watched events.

Bloomberg:
Sources: Apple tells suppliers to pull back from efforts to increase supply of iPhone 14 models by ~6M units in H2 2022, aiming for 90M units, on par with 2021  —  Apple Inc. is backing off plans to increase production of its new iPhones this year after an anticipated surge in demand failed to materialize …

Wall Street Journal:
A look at Apple’s efforts to reduce dependence on Foxconn; sources: Apple wants other suppliers in China, Vietnam, and India to actively plan product assembly  —  Burned by Covid lockdowns and worker protests at Foxconn plants, the iPhone maker is looking to diversify the supply chain that has powered its growth

Vlad Savov / Bloomberg:
Source: turmoil at Foxconn’s Zhengzhou hub is likely to lower iPhone 14 Pro production by close to 6M units in 2022, potentially worsening if lockdowns continue  —  Turmoil at Apple Inc.’s key manufacturing hub of Zhengzhou is likely to result in a production shortfall of close …

Che Pan / South China Morning Post:
Chinese media reports: Xiaomi plans to lay off ~15% of its 35,314 employees amid weaker sales due to China’s COVID-19 lockdowns and slower consumer spending  —  Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi, which has an ambitious goal of unseating iPhone maker Apple from the No 1 spot globally by 2024 …

Wall Street Journal:
Sources: US chip equipment suppliers are pausing business activities and pulling out staff based at China’s YMTC, following US curbs on China’s chip sector  —  Tool makers are pulling out staff and pausing work as they assess the impact of Commerce Department restrictions on semiconductor exports to China