Quick summary
There may be less iPhone Duo stock than originally expected by 2026.
The hinge is reported to be slowing production, seeing the estimate from 7 million units to 6 million.
Apple announced the iPhone Duo – its first folding phone – alongside the iPhone 18 Pro. But for those who want the new foldable iPhone, there will be a wait until October for it to go on sale. According to a recent report, customers may be waiting even longer to get one.
The iPhone Duo isn’t expected to ship until October 23rd, but a report from analyst Jeff Pu (via 9to5Mac) says Apple may not have the stock to fulfill orders. The reason is “hinge limitations”.
According to the report, only 6 million iPhone Duo models will be shipped in 2026 instead of the original estimate of 7 million, as the hinge slows down production.
There are no details on exactly what the problem is and there is no verification, just an adjustment to the levels of stock expected for the rest of 2026.
Further, Jeff Pu says that the early feedback is positive, with a smooth folding action, great display and great multitasking iOS 27. The reported disadvantages are that it is thicker, only has a dual camera and that the notch is visible.
Apple (AAPL) Research Summary • iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max pre-order wait times look slow⁰• 3-4 weeks for most 256/512GB Pro Max + Burgundy 1TB (US)⁰• Faster: 1-2 weeks Black/Glacier 1TB, instant for many Silver 1TB & 2TB higher…September 15, 2026
The last element is interesting, because many of the early voices said that the cancer cannot be seen. But as we noted in our first impressions of the iPhone Duo, the bezel is still there, it’s just that the matte finish on the screen reduces the reflections that typically mark the crease on folding phones.
It’s likely that short supply won’t do any reputational damage to the iPhone Duo: I expect it to sell out and carry the cult status for the next 6 months until it becomes more common.
Nevertheless, due to the high price, it is possible that many will stick to the iPhone 18 Pro, or even wait for a cheaper iPhone 18 to launch in 2027. With all that said, short supply could see the iPhone Duo sell for above its original retail price via online marketplaces as fans rush to get their hands on the latest piece of Apple kit.
While the iPhone Duo catapulted flip phones into the wider consciousness, there are plenty of other options. Samsung is well established with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Xiaomi will launch the Xiaomi 18 Fold, there’s a foldable Pixel and Honor is rumored to launch a new folding model soon, with Motorola also looking to add another Razr to its lineup.
Pretty soon we will be overwhelmed with flip phones.