Apple can't say when iPhone Duo supply will catch up with demand
Apple executives said on an earnings call they can't predict when iPhone Duo supply and demand will balance, with shipping delays stretching into next year.
The story in focus
Apple's new $1,999 foldable iPhone sold out quickly after launch, and executives say they cannot predict when supply will meet demand. Some buyers reported cracked inner screens, which Apple said it will replace. Carriers are offering gift cards amid shipping delays that stretch into next year.
- Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo, is priced at $1,999 and sold out shortly after release
- COO Sabih Khan said it is hard to predict when supply and demand will be in balance
- Some phones cracked along the inside fold; Apple said it will replace affected units
- Shipping times for new orders stretch into next year, and Verizon has offered gift cards
- Apple reported quarterly iPhone revenue of $57bn, up 17% year over year
What changed
Apple released its first foldable iPhone, the Duo, toward the end of October at $1,999. The device sold out quickly, and on a Monday earnings call executives said they could not say when more units would be available.
Chief operating officer Sabih Khan said the ramp was going well but that it is hard to predict when supply and demand will balance. Customers who did not preorder or buy in store are seeing ship dates stretch into next year, and Verizon has apologized for delays by offering gift cards.
Cracked screens and replacements
Some buyers reported screens cracking along the inside fold. Apple said a small number of phones were affected and that it will replace them. Chief executive John Ternus told Reuters that a very small percentage were returned for the issue.
Apple also said it is deepening its partnership with titanium supplier Perryman to support the foldable.
Wider supply picture
The Duo delays come as Apple reports component constraints and rising memory costs, which executives linked partly to demand from AI data centres. Khan said constraints are expected to continue into next year, particularly affecting iPads and Macs.
For the quarter ended 26 September, which did not include Duo sales, Apple reported iPhone revenue of $57bn, up 17%, and Mac revenue of $10.7bn, up 27%. iPad and wearable sales fell 10% and 7% respectively.
When will Apple have enough iPhone Duos to meet demand?
Apple has not given a date. COO Sabih Khan said it is hard to predict when supply and demand will balance, and shipping estimates for new orders stretch into next year.
Sources & further reading
- iPhone Duo: Apple unsure when more of the foldable devices will be available ↗BBC
- Apple says it's 'hard to predict' when iPhone Duo constraints will improve | TechCrunch ↗TechCrunch
- Apple is ‘not able to predict’ when it’ll have enough iPhone Duos to go around ↗The Verge
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