iPhone Duo production: Apple's foldable demand surge
Supply chain reports indicate Apple has increased its first-year shipment target for the new folding iPhone following an initial wave of orders.
By Arjun Patel ·
Apple has reportedly raised its shipment target for the new iPhone Duo by more than 40%, responding to a surge of orders for its first folding device. The company's internal forecast for the first 12 months of sales has been adjusted upward from 9.7 million units to 14 million units.
The decision follows a period of intense activity when pre-orders began. Availability windows for the new model shifted to later delivery dates almost immediately after the order period opened. Some customers who ordered were given estimated shipping times in late January. Apple characterized the initial response as what it calls “extraordinary” demand for the product.
The company also placed a limit of two devices per customer for the initial order period. This measure was taken to address resale activity on the secondary market. Some customers who placed an order were subsequently notified of earlier shipping estimates than first provided.
The report on increased shipment targets originates from DigiTimes, which cited sources within the supply chain. The source did not immediately provide a comment on the report. The company's own statement on the matter did not address the specific shipment figures.
The device's initial availability is tied to the availability of compatible software. Apple stated that third-party applications are not yet optimized for the new screen format, but that the situation is improving. The first week of usage reports from customers and reviewers have identified a lack of app support as a key issue.
Another point identified in early reviews concerns the device's authentication method. The iPhone Duo uses Touch ID for security. A report published today states that the company is testing a second-generation prototype of the device. This prototype is reported to include Face ID functionality.
The company has not announced a release date for a second-generation model. The initial launch of the iPhone Duo is scheduled for a later date. The company's sales forecast for the first 12 months of the device's availability is set at 14 million units.
Source: 9to5Mac
