Huge Demand Leaves Apple’s First Foldable Smartphone in Short Supply

Apple is facing difficulties keeping up with demand for its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, after the highly anticipated device sold out shortly after becoming available for pre-orders.

The technology giant has admitted that it cannot yet predict when supply will catch up with customer demand, leaving prospective buyers uncertain about when they will receive the new device.

Apple’s iPhone Duo features a foldable design aimed at the premium smartphone market.

Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, Sabih Khan, acknowledged the challenge during a conference call with financial analysts following the company’s latest financial results.

Khan said it was difficult to determine when supply and demand would return to balance, although the company was working to increase availability.

The iPhone Duo, which carries a starting price of $1,999, attracted extraordinary interest ahead of its October 23, 2026 launch. Pre-orders opened on October 16 but available online stocks reportedly sold out within minutes, pushing delivery estimates for some customers into January 2027.

Apple Chief Executive Officer John Ternus welcomed the strong response, saying the company was working to make the new device available to more customers.

The shortage has also affected physical retail availability. Before launch, Apple confirmed that its stores would have limited quantities for customers wishing to purchase the device without placing an online order.

Manufacturing challenges and screen concerns

Beyond the unexpected demand, Apple’s first foldable smartphone presents manufacturing challenges because of its sophisticated folding mechanism and tightly fitting hinge.

Industry analysts believe producing the device in large quantities could take time as Apple works to improve manufacturing capacity.

The launch has also attracted attention over reports of screen damage. Apple acknowledged that a small number of devices developed cracks along the inside fold and said affected customers would receive replacement phones.

Strong pre-order demand leaves Apple’s first foldable smartphone in short supply.

Despite these concerns, the company appears encouraged by the early reception of the product.

Apple’s latest financial performance also reflects continued strength in its smartphone business. For the three months ending September 26, iPhone revenue increased by 17 per cent to approximately $57.6 billion, although this reporting period came before the iPhone Duo went on sale.

The company is also facing wider supply-chain pressures, including shortages of advanced processors and rising memory costs, which could affect production across several product categories.

With delivery estimates extending into 2027, the immediate challenge for Apple will be increasing production while maintaining the quality expected of its premium devices.

The strong reception of the iPhone Duo could represent an important moment in Apple’s expansion into the foldable smartphone market, where Samsung and Huawei have already established themselves as major competitors.