Apple fans awaiting the iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable smartphone, may find it hard to get the device because producing the folding screen is difficult. Production may reach only about 6 million units by the end of the year.
Jeff Pu, an analyst from GF Securities, has lowered the 2023 production forecast for the iPhone Duo to 6 million units from 7 million. Pu explained the cause is not consumer demand but production constraints with the hinge causing manufacturing delays.
Jeff Pu added that the iPhone Duo’s production volume is very low compared tothe iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which are expected to total as many as 72 million units by the end of this year.This is 12 times the production volume of the iPhone Duo.
The iPhone Duo began pre-orders on 16 October, not launching alongside the Pro models as usual, with general sales starting on 23 October at a starting price of 79,900 baht.
This analysis aligns with a Nikkei Asia report dated 4 September, before the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo. The report cited supply chain sources stating that by late August, Apple was producing only a few hundred foldable smartphones daily due to strict quality control standards. Apple also added another production trial in August to improve output quality, especially surface smoothness and hinge performance. Previously, Nikkei reported Apple aimed to produce 8 to 10 million units this year.
Information from Apple's official website states the iPhone Duo contains more than 100 components.Its hinge cover is formed by 3D printing using recycled titanium.
/source:9to5Mac