Apple’s iPhone Duo Encounters Supply Challenges Ahead of Launch
As anticipation mounts for Apple’s inaugural foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, supply constraints have emerged amid the commencement of reservation orders on October 16.
The tech giant has initiated bookings in key markets, including the United States and South Korea, while initial limited availability has spurred a surge in resale activities across China and the U.S., with the official release slated for October 23 in over 70 regions.
The iPhone Duo will debut at a starting price of $1,999 in the American market for the 256GB variant, with reservations being accepted synchronously across various countries. This device is poised to make its first appearance across more than 70 global markets.
Insights from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggest that initial supply may fall short of burgeoning demand. Kuo has projected the assembly shipments for the third quarter of 2026 to range between 500,000 and 1 million units.
According to Kuo’s analysis, total assembly shipments for the latter half of 2026 are anticipated to be between 7 million and 8 million units.
The expected third-quarter output would constitute roughly 10 percent of this overall estimate, largely comprising inventory designated for the pre-launch period.
Mark Gurman, in his coverage for Bloomberg, cautioned prospective buyers regarding the necessity for advance planning, given the potential limitations in initial supply.
“To procure the iPhone Duo, it is essential to devise a strategy ahead of time,” remarked Gurman in his Power On newsletter released on November 11.
He indicated that the available stock could be considerably less than the anticipated demand, with production conditions playing a pivotal role as the launch date approaches.
The efficiency of assembly processes has garnered scrutiny as well. Reports from Chinese media indicated that the final assembly yields hovered slightly above 60 percent in mid-September, with normalizing production potentially taking up to a year.
This anticipated shortfall has incited a flurry of activity on resale platforms in both China and the U.S., where listings for reservations have surfaced at prices that significantly exceed Apple’s official pricing. In Hong Kong, one reseller has promoted a reservation automation software designed for this device.
The Hong Kong-based reseller claims that the software can secure two units in a mere seven seconds, generating over 2,000 comments of interest on posts that showcased past order histories along with interface screenshots.
Source link: Suaragarut.id.
