Apple cannot say when iPhone Duo supply will catch up with demand

Apple has no timetable for resolving the supply shortage affecting its new iPhone Duo, according to CEO John Ternus. Speaking to Reuters, Ternus said the company was working to deliver the foldable phone to customers as quickly as possible but could not forecast when supply would match demand. His comments left the timing of a balance between supply and demand uncertain.

The iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable phone, launched in October at $1,999. The device has a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch screen on the inside. Preorders sold out quickly, and some shipments are expected to reach customers in 2027. Apple also offered a limited number of the phones in its stores when the device went on sale.

Asked about availability, Ternus told Reuters that Apple was “working hard to get it to as many customers as quickly as possible.” He added that the company was not yet able to predict when supply and demand would be in balance. The interview provided no date for an end to the constraints affecting the phone.

Ternus also responded to reports of cracked screens on the iPhone Duo. He said returns linked to that problem represented “a very small percentage” of the devices and that Apple was replacing affected phones. His remarks addressed the reported screen damage alongside the questions about how quickly the company could fulfill demand.

The availability problems come as Apple continues to contend with supply chain constraints and higher memory costs, pressures it has faced for months. Those conditions have resulted in price increases across its product range. Starting prices for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max have also risen.

During Apple's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call on Monday, November 2, Ternus described current memory pricing as “unprecedented.” He said Apple expected “even higher memory costs” in its December quarter, while noting that recent increases in product prices would partly offset those costs. The company therefore expects further memory cost increases despite the pressures it has already experienced.

Apple nevertheless reported record iPhone revenue of $57.58 billion for its fourth quarter. That result came even without a standard iPhone 18 model in the lineup.