Apple iPhone Duo Shortage Pushes Deliveries Into 2027, With No Relief Date In Sight

Apple's first foldable iPhone is proving difficult to get, even for customers willing to wait months. Despite ramping up production, Apple has admitted that it cannot predict when iPhone Duo supply will meet demand, with delivery estimates already stretching into 2027.

The situation raises an unusual challenge for a company known for its supply chain efficiency, as rising component costs add another layer of pressure.
 

TL;DR

 

• Apple has confirmed that iPhone Duo demand continues to outpace available supply.
• Customers who missed the initial launch and preorder window face deliveries extending into 2027.
• Verizon is reportedly offering gift cards to customers affected by delays.
• Apple is increasing production and strengthening its titanium supply partnership, but has not provided a timeline for resolving the shortage.

 

Apple iPhone Duo Shipping Delays Stretch Into 2027 Amid Strong Demand

The iPhone Duo may be one of Apple's most sought-after products, but getting one has become a challenge.

During Apple's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call on November 2, Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan acknowledged that the company was struggling to fulfill orders for its first foldable smartphone.

While production is increasing, Khan said Apple could not determine when supply would catch up with demand.

The shortage follows a launch that reportedly saw the iPhone Duo sell out on Apple's website within hours of becoming available. According to reports, Apple had previously characterized the initial customer response as “nothing short of extraordinary.”

However, that enthusiasm has created a frustrating situation for customers who did not secure a device through early preorders or visit an Apple Store immediately after launch.

Some buyers are now facing shipping estimates extending into next year, with the delays also affecting Apple's retail partners.

Verizon has reportedly begun apologizing to affected customers and offering gift cards as compensation for extended waiting periods.

The supply situation adds another challenge to the iPhone Duo's early rollout, which has already attracted attention for its foldable display issues.
 

AI Memory Chip Costs Add Pressure To Apple's iPhone Supply Chain

The shipping delays come as Apple faces another problem: increasingly expensive memory chips.

Demand from the artificial intelligence (AI) industry has driven up memory component costs, creating challenges for consumer electronics manufacturers.

During the earnings call, Khan acknowledged that Apple had already increased prices across several products, describing those decisions as reluctant.

The broader RAM and storage crisis has created additional cost pressures across the hardware industry.

However, Apple has not specifically identified memory shortages as the cause of the iPhone Duo's delivery delays.

Instead, the company is taking steps to strengthen its manufacturing supply chain, including expanding its relationship with titanium producer Perryman.

The partnership supplies material used in the foldable smartphone and forms part of Apple's efforts to support higher production volumes.
 

 

Apple Has Yet To Confirm When iPhone Duo Availability Will Improve

Despite the manufacturing challenges, Apple remains optimistic about the response to its first foldable smartphone.

CEO John Ternus acknowledged the positive reception from reviewers and customers while emphasizing the company's efforts to accelerate deliveries.

Nevertheless, Apple has not announced a specific date for normal iPhone Duo availability, leaving buyers without a clear indication of how long the shortage could last.

For now, the company faces the unusual problem of having customers eager to purchase its newest iPhone but insufficient inventory to satisfy them.