Want an iPhone Duo for the holidays? Apple’s latest stock update isn’t reassuring

ZDNET’S key takeaways:

- The iPhone Duo is unlikely to make it under many Christmas trees in 2026.

- Apple told investors that the company cannot predict when iPhone Duo supply and demand “will be in balance.”

- Demand for one rival foldable has increased since Duo’s launch.

Apple is unsure when it will have more of its foldable iPhone Duo in stock for customers to purchase ahead of Black Friday and the holiday shopping season.

During Apple’s earnings call on Monday, Nov. 2, Apple’s chief operating officer, Sabih Khan, told investors that the company couldn’t say when supply of its new iPhone Duo would catch up with current demand.

Also: iPhone Duo hands-on: Some magical touches

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A rocky Duo launch

The stock and shipping delays were among the broader concerns on an earnings call riddled with questions about rising memory chip costs driven by the AI industry, according to reports from TechCrunch.

Also: iPhone Duo shortage watch: Changing wait times, buying limits, launch-day odds

Last month, the iPhone Duo (Apple’s priciest smartphone to date) sold out shortly after its official launch on Oct. 23. Apple told the Financial Times that demand for the new Duo was “nothing short of extraordinary” after the smashing sell-outs, though veteran techies like Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman posited that Apple knew it would encounter supply chain issues, yet it was still the plan all along.

Those who didn’t initially jump to preorder the new device or wait in line at an Apple store are still facing shipping times that extend into 2027. Some outlets are even reporting that carriers like Verizon have offered gift cards as apologies for the extended delays.

Apple CEO John Ternus signaled the company’s effort to meet demand for the iPhone Duo, announcing that Apple will be “deepening” its partnership with Perryman, a titanium producer supplying pieces for the device.

Also: iPhone Duo screen cracks: Serious issue or overblown? What we know

“We’ve been thrilled with the early response from reviewers and customers, and we are working hard to get iPhone Duo into customers’ hands as quickly as we can,” Ternus said during his opening remarks on the earnings call.

Rising memory prices

While the iPhone Duo snafu is a rare event for Apple, which traditionally has a strong reputation for a smooth supply chain, rising demand for memory chips is raising hardware costs across the industry, and it’s something Apple can’t circumvent. On the call, Khan noted that Apple has had to increase prices on numerous products, though he said those decisions were made rather “reluctantly.”

Back in June, MacBooks and iPads saw price increases of up to 25% due to rising hardware and chip costs.

As Apple works to iron out its kinks, customers may be looking elsewhere. Reports from Korea indicate that Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 sales jumped 20% in the week after the iPhone Duo became available, and recent reports of cracked displays are another strike for Apple.

Also: Want an iPhone Duo before 2027? Try this

So, Santa may not be able to deliver the iPhone Duo this year, but Samsung’s foldables may make it onto Christmas lists across the globe instead.