Title: A Silicon Chip Shortage May Delay Headphones and Game Consoles, but Don’t Panic | Wirecutter
Headings: A Silicon Chip Shortage May Delay Headphones and Game Consoles, but Don’t Panic
Real Talk
A Silicon Chip Shortage May Delay Headphones and Game Consoles, but Don’t Panic
What’s causing the chip shortages?
What kinds of products are affected?
Computers, smartphones, and computer accessories
Game consoles and PC gaming equipment
Smart-home devices
TVs, speakers, and audio equipment
Headphones
What to do if an item you want is out of stock
Sources

Content: a low supply of the silicon chips used in computers, smartphones, gaming consoles, and other electronics. After reading some of the coverage of these shortages, you might be concerned that, in a few months, you won’t be able to buy certain devices at all. That’s not quite the case, but the situation may require a little flexibility and patience. We spoke with industry analysts and Wirecutter staffers to find out what you can expect in the months ahead and how to shop for specific electronics. What’s causing the chip shortages? The current chip shortage is the result of a perfect storm of factors, including pandemic-related work stoppages, increased demand, and broken transportation logistics. We’ve also learned that a drought in Taiwan could exacerbate this. This clusterfrack of issues impacts different tech segments in different ways but often produces delays in getting gear into your hands. Last year, many industries experienced manufacturing declines or complete halts in production as a result of the pandemic. The handful of plants that make silicon semiconductor chips were no exception.