Given the long wait times for these things I think it's pretty clear this is a supply issue, not a demand issue. As for touch authentication, there's still the

Given the long wait times for these things I think it's pretty clear this is a supply issue, not a demand issue. As for touch authentication, there's still the SE so at least they still have that as an option in the lineup. The thing is they begin the design outline for new iPhones from 24 to 18 months in advance of launch. Even a 2 year pandemic is a temporary issue relative to the iPhone design cycle, and any design response they might make to it would only show up towards the end of the crisis anyway.