Apple cannot say when iPhone Duo supply will meet demand

Apple says it cannot yet say when supply of its new foldable iPhone Duo will catch up with demand. Executives made the comments around the company's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call on Monday and in an interview with Reuters.

Chief executive John Ternus told Reuters: "working hard to get it to as many customers as quickly as possible, but at this point, we're not able to predict when supply and demand will be in balance."

Chief operating officer Sabih Khan said on the call: "iPhone Duo is constrained as of today. The ramp is going well, and we're working hard to get this revolutionary new product into the hands of our customers as quickly as possible. But at this time, it's really hard to predict when supply and demand will be in balance."

Apple launched its first foldable last month at $1,999. It has a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner screen. Preorders sold out quickly, with the website selling out within hours, according to TechCrunch. Some shipments are expected to arrive in 2027, The Verge reported, and Apple made a limited number of units available in stores at launch.

TechCrunch reported that customers who did not buy at launch are seeing ship times stretch into next year, and that Verizon has been offering gift cards to apologise for the delays. Ternus said a very small percentage of devices were returned over cracked screens and that Apple is replacing them.

Costs are also a pressure. Ternus said memory pricing is "unprecedented" and that Apple expects even higher memory costs in the December quarter, partly offset by recent price increases. Apple has raised prices across its lineup, including higher starting prices for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Khan said the increases were made reluctantly.

TechCrunch reported that soaring AI-driven demand for memory chips has raised component costs for hardware makers, and that Apple is deepening its partnership with the titanium producer Perryman to supply materials for the foldable. Apple reported record iPhone revenue of $57.58 billion in its fourth quarter.