Apple boosts iPhone Duo output by 30%

Apple is ramping up production of its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, asking suppliers to increase orders by 30% after demand outpaced initial expectations following its global launch. The company has requested that partners both accelerate manufacturing and lift volumes to address supply shortages that emerged almost immediately after release.

Initial stock of the iPhone Duo sold out rapidly, with demand described as strong and supplies clearly insufficient.

Earlier planning had pegged this year’s iPhone Duo production and shipment target at about 6 million units. That figure has now been revised to a range of 8 million to 10 million units for the year, reflecting the decision to raise production orders by 30% and the stronger-than-anticipated reception of the device.

Looking further ahead, shipment projections for the iPhone Duo are estimated to reach 33 million units by 2027. Based on these revised targets, market research firms estimate that the model could capture approximately 40% of the global foldable smartphone market next year, which would position Apple as a leading player in the foldable category.

The iPhone Duo was launched globally on a Friday with strong demand but limited supplies, and early sales were mostly confined to pre-orders due to constrained inventory. Taiwanese media cited assembly yield hurdles at the manufacturing stage and unseasonably strong demand from Apple fans as reasons for the rapid stock-out.

With the next shipment window not expected until late January, the supply gap underscores how the initial allocation was insufficient for the device’s debut. The decision to boost orders by 30% is aimed at narrowing this gap and bringing production more in line with observed demand levels.

The iPhone Duo marks Apple’s entry into the foldable smartphone segment and is assembled by Foxconn, with its core processor supplied by TSMC (TSM). This manufacturing setup connects established partners to the new product line, supporting the ramp-up in output triggered by the stronger demand.

In terms of pricing, the Duo is positioned at a premium, coming in well above comparable foldable smartphones offered by rivals Samsung and Google. Despite the higher price point, early demand has been strong enough to prompt higher production orders and raise shipment expectations over the next several years.