iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable phone, could face a problem at launch that Samsung knows all too well: demand may far outstrip supply.
According to ETNews, Apple’s supply chain is reportedly struggling to reach its planned production volume for the iPhone Duo, with manufacturing output said to be significantly below expectations.
The situation is tied to the complexity of producing Apple’s first foldable, which introduces new components such as a foldable display and hinge while still requiring Apple’s usual quality standards.
The production bottleneck could be particularly important because the iPhone Duo is expected to generate substantial demand from both existing iPhone owners and consumers who have been waiting for Apple to enter the foldable market.
Pre-orders reportedly starting October 16, and sales beginning October 23. However, limited global production could mean smaller country allocations, early sell-outs and longer delivery times for certain colors and storage variants.
Apple iPhone Duo supply crunch could help Samsung
Samsung has spent years building its foldable business and supply chain, while Apple is effectively starting from scratch with the iPhone Duo.
If Apple cannot quickly improve production yields, consumers who want a foldable iPhone but cannot get one immediately may have more reason to consider Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip models instead.
That does not mean every delayed iPhone Duo buyer will switch to Galaxy. Apple’s ecosystem remains a powerful retention tool. Still, if shortages extend through the crucial holiday period, Samsung could benefit from the timing.
ET News reports that some supply-chain expectations point toward production stabilizing early next year. If that happens, the initial shortage could remain a temporary launch issue. If not, Apple’s first foldable could become a case where demand is not the problem, but manufacturing capacity is.
