MobileNov 3, 2026, 12:07 PM UTC·2 min read

Apple: Hard to Predict When iPhone Duo Supply Will Catch Up

Apple's COO says iPhone Duo production is ramping well, but the company can't say when supply will match demand as delivery dates slip into next year.

A customer holding a foldable smartphone inside an Apple Store as shipping delays for the new device continue. — Image: TechCrunch

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Apple cannot yet say when supply of the iPhone Duo will catch up with demand. Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan addressed the shipping delays on the company's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call on Monday, offering little certainty on timing.

"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," Khan said.

Delivery dates slip into next year

Shoppers who did not queue at an Apple Store or order immediately at launch are now seeing ship times that stretch into next year. Verizon has been apologizing to customers for the delays by offering gift cards. In an October report, Apple described demand for the foldable as "nothing short of extraordinary," after the device sold out on its website within hours of going on sale.

The prolonged waits stand out given Apple's reputation for a highly efficient supply chain. The company said it is "deepening" its partnership with Perryman, a titanium producer, to secure materials for the new foldable. CEO John Ternus said in his opening remarks that Apple has been "thrilled with the early response from reviewers and customers."

Memory costs add pressure

The call was also dominated by questions about rising memory chip costs, driven by surging demand from the AI industry. Those costs are squeezing hardware makers across the board and threaten to push device prices higher still.

Khan noted that Apple has itself raised prices on a number of products, and said those decisions were made "reluctantly."

For buyers, the message is that anyone who has not yet ordered an iPhone Duo should expect a long wait, with no firm date for when availability will normalize.