Apple unsure when more foldable iPhones will be back in stock
Supply limits and memory cost increases are making it hard for Apple to plan. Quarterly results showed strong iPhone and Mac sales, while iPad and wearable sales fell.
Key points
- Apple says it cannot yet give a date for more iPhone Duo stock.
- Stock of the Duo ran out within a little over seven days of release.
- Apple reports component supply limits and rising memory costs.
- iPhone revenue rose 17% to $57bn in the July to September quarter.
- iPad and wearable sales fell by 10% and 7%.
Apple says it cannot yet tell customers when fresh stock of its foldable iPhone will arrive. The company is approaching the crucial Christmas shopping season, when retail demand typically climbs. According to the BBC, the iPhone Duo was snapped up within a little more than seven days of hitting shelves.
The Duo carries the top price in Apple’s lineup, at close to $2,000. Even so, it ran out quickly. Apple cited limits on the parts it can obtain, and admitted that forecasting the point at which available units match buyer interest is difficult.
Supply and cost pressures
Chief executive John Ternus said the company is facing an unprecedented increase in memory costs, including for chips. Memory covers the capacity devices use to keep apps, pictures and messages. The artificial intelligence sector is pouring huge sums into new server facilities, and much of that memory passes through them.
Chief operating officer Sabih Khan said most Apple products remain short of supply. Part of the cause is a lack of enough advanced-node microprocessors, the chip technology that helps devices run faster. Much of this output is produced by TSMC in Taiwan. Khan said the shortage is likely to last into the coming year and would hit iPads and Macs hardest.
Apple has also described demand as unexpected, saying that strong interest has added to the pressure. The mix of tight supply and high demand has made planning difficult. The company has been clear that the issue is not limited to one product line.
Screen concerns
The Duo is the first major redesign of the iPhone in nearly two decades. Some owners have complained about its display. Last week, Apple said it would swap out handsets hit by a fault that caused a limited number of units to split along the inside of the fold.
Ternus expressed satisfaction with how people first responded to the device. Apple’s executives did not raise the screen issue when they published their latest financial figures on Monday.
Latest quarterly results
The results cover the three months to 26 September. They do not include Duo sales, because the phone went on sale at the end of October. Apple nonetheless said it sold more iPhones worldwide in the past year than in any earlier year.
iPhone revenue climbed 17% to $57bn, equal to £42bn. Mac revenue rose 27% to a record $10.7bn. Total sales moved from $102bn to $114bn in the July to September period, and pre-tax profit grew from $32.8bn to $36.1bn.
Not every category grew. iPad sales dropped 10%, and wearables such as headphones and watches fell 7%.
The timing matters because the Christmas period is a key trading window. Supply gaps during these weeks could carry weight for the company’s results.
Frequently asked questions
Why canu0026#039;t Apple say when the foldable iPhone Duo will be back in stock?
Apple points to limits on the components it can source. It also says that matching supply with buyer interest is hard to forecast.
How much does the iPhone Duo cost?
The Duo is the priciest model in Appleu0026#039;s range, priced close to $2,000. Its stock ran out within a little over seven days of release.
Are there problems with the iPhone Duo screen?
Some owners have reported screen issues. Apple has said it will replace units affected by a fault that caused cracks along the inner fold.
Sources
This article was written with the help of AI from reports by the outlets listed above. See our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
