Apple Launches iPhone Duo Foldable With Severe Supply Shortages

Apple Inc. is preparing to release the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone, on October 23. While pre-orders opened on October 16 and sold out within minutes, the company is facing significant supply chain constraints and strict quality control standards that have hampered production. Some reports indicate manufacturing has slowed to only a few hundred units per day.

Due to these shortages, current delivery estimates for new online orders extend to January 25. The company described the pre-order demand as "nothing short of extraordinary," though it remains unclear if the scarcity stems from sheer order volume or the complexities of the foldable design. In the United Kingdom, the device is priced between £1,999 and £3,199, while the starting price in the United States is $2,000.

Apple Store employees have been advised to discourage non-preorder customers from visiting stores expecting available stock on launch day. While the company has invited customers to visit physical locations to experience the device, it has not confirmed if on-the-spot purchases will be possible. Bloomberg Intelligence estimates the company expects to sell 14 million units of the iPhone Duo during the current fiscal year.