iPhone Duo shipments target is reportedly getting a significant boost after the pre-orders disaster

With the lucky few who could secure an iPhone Duo pre-order for its launch date already receiving their devices, we can start gauging how strong the demand for the foldable really is. A new report suggests that things are going well above initial expectations, prompting a change to the production orders for the phone.

iPhone Duo production targets are getting much higher than the initial plans

Apple is reportedly answering to the messy pre-order process for the iPhone Duo by ordering a substantial increase in production from its suppliers. According to a DigiTimes report, the company has instructed components manufacturers and Foxconn to make 14 million devices instead of the initially planned 9.6 million. 

If the information coming from supply chain sources is correct, this means that Apple is increasing its production target by 44% as a follow-up to the strong demand during the pre-order period of the Duo. The company has already described the interest in its first foldable as “nothing short of extraordinary,” without addressing the long delivery estimates people are seeing.

This won’t solve the iPhone Duo pre-orders issues

While the company appears to be pushing for the production of over four million extra units, this is highly unlikely to solve its short-term issues with the iPhone Duo supply. The reason is that the increased number is reportedly corresponding to the orders over a full 12-month period, not to the months until the end of 2026.

Apple’s most pressing issue is the shipment delays for the current pre-orders of the iPhone Duo. The problem became apparent merely 30 minutes after pre-orders opened last Friday. Delivery estimates quickly slipped into January 2027, and have remained the same ever since.

Even worse, this increased production target doesn’t necessarily mean that Apple has solved its earlier production issues. The company clearly wants to have more units available, but the production output would depend fully on assembly progress, which hasn’t been great so far.

Earlier reports claimed that Apple was facing various difficulties with the manufacturing of the foldable, some related to the overall assembly process, while others were related to the display and hinge manufacturing. Part of the problem was the company’s quality requirements that have led to very low production yield, barely reaching 60% by the middle of September.

None of this seems to have dampened the excitement of the potential iPhone Duo buyers, though. Reactions to the first reviews of the Duo on Reddit included some worries about the app optimization, but that’s largely considered a small issue. Getting a radically different iPhone seems much more important.

It’ll still be a good year for foldables

Multiple analysts have predicted that the arrival of the iPhone Duo will push the whole foldables market to new heights. DigiTimes says that shipments will grow 25.7% in 2026 and another 59.1% in 2027. Considering the 7.4% growth in 2025 and that the overall smartphone market is already going down thanks to the continuing memory price crisis, this will be a great achievement. 

While Apple’s entry to the space will contribute to the growth, it won’t be all because of the iPhone Duo. Samsung is already enjoying heightened interest in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra, and other brands are about to join the passport-style foldable trend. Motorola is rumored to launch the Razr Flex 27 sometime in December, while Chinese brands like Huawei and Xiaomi already have their devices available. 

Still a hit among fans

The hype around passport-style foldables is unlikely to die off anytime soon, but I can’t imagine Apple not being impacted by its botched production and launch. After all, if you’re willing to pay $1,999 or more for a smartphone, a little waiting is unlikely to curb your enthusiasm.

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