Key takeaways
- DigiTimes reports that Apple told Foxconn and component makers to raise iPhone Duo production from 9.7 million to 14 million units, about 44% more, citing strong pre-order demand. The target covers 12 months, not only the rest of 2026.
- Apple has not confirmed any number. It has only called demand “nothing short of extraordinary,” while US deliveries still show January and earlier reports pointed to problems with assembly, displays and hinges.
- My view: this has to be taken with a grain of salt. It is another leak without Apple behind it, and 44% over a whole year is not that big. I am still waiting for real sales numbers, not pre-orders.
One day before the iPhone Duo goes on sale, a new number is going around. According to Taiwan’s DigiTimes, Apple has told Foxconn and its component suppliers to raise iPhone Duo production from 9.7 million to 14 million units, an increase of about 44%. The reason is said to be strong pre-order demand. DigiTimes says the new target covers a full 12 months, not just the rest of 2026, and warns that reaching it depends on how fast assembly can scale, after earlier reports of problems with assembly, displays and hinges.
Apple itself has not given any number. It has only said that demand is “nothing short of extraordinary.” Within 30 minutes of pre-orders opening on October 16, US delivery estimates slipped to January 25. The iPhone Duo goes on sale on Friday, October 23, starting at $1,999. DigiTimes also expects foldable shipments to grow 25.7% in 2026 and 59.1% in 2027, partly thanks to Apple.
In this article: Take it with a grain of salt · 44% more, but over a whole year · Apple knows less than it says · Why we always hear it from Asia · Don’t come to the store, then earlier dates · 0% financing is not a bad thing · News for investors, not for customers · FAQ
Take it with a grain of salt
When I read this news, I said right away that it has to be taken with a grain of salt. To me, it is again some leak that does not have Apple’s support behind it. This is only my impression, but that is how I will read it.
As news before the start of sales, it is really excellent. But ten days ago I wrote that something still does not fit, and that is still my main question for Apple. I am waiting for real numbers, not for pre-orders. Apple keeps relying on pre-orders and on how big the interest is. But as we know very well, a pre-order does not mean a sale.
44% more, but over a whole year
Let’s look at the numbers. China’s Securities Times wrote earlier that Apple wanted almost 10 million units by the end of 2026. Now DigiTimes talks about 14 million, but over 12 months, which already runs deep into 2027. These are two different sources and two different periods, so the “+44%” does not mean what the headline makes it sound like.
If they wanted almost 10 million in a few months, then 14 million for a whole year is nothing that big. If anything, it is embarrassing that for 12 more months they did not raise it by 100%, but only by 44%.
And here I have a second question: did they choose 44% on purpose? This is my speculation, but I think it means a second generation is being prepared. With such long delivery times and such problems producing the first generation, maybe they said: once we fine-tune production, we show the second generation, and we don’t need to make so many of the first. Because if it is this hard to make, they would not even manage to sell the first one before the second arrives.
| Date | Source | What was reported |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 12 | Securities Times | Orders up about 30%, to almost 10 million units by the end of 2026 |
| Oct 16 | Apple Store | US delivery slips to January 25 within 30 minutes |
| Oct 17 | GF Securities | Forecast cut from 7 to 6 million units over hinge problems |
| Oct 22 | DigiTimes | 9.7 million to 14 million units over 12 months, about +44% |
Apple knows less than it says
With the Duo there are a lot of questions that we cannot explain, and we only speculate, because Apple tells us very little. Apple is learning on its own mistakes how hard it is to make a foldable in big volume. And now you can feel it like never before: logistics, assembling the Duo and the problem with the hinge do not make production easy for them at all.
Will they manage 14 million? Honestly, I am laughing. In my opinion, they will manage it maybe by next fall, and as soon as the second generation comes out, people who bought one or have a pre-order will start canceling. They had so many years to fully prepare production and present their first foldable phone, but unfortunately they messed it up.
Why we always hear it from Asia
Why do we always “find out” the numbers through suppliers in Asia? That fascinates me every time. Very often it is exactly from Asia that we get the most information, and I see a pattern in it. It works like some kind of PR that Apple then reacts to, depending on what spreads across the internet. When the comments and reactions are good, Apple stays quiet. But when something gets out of control in a bad way, a few days later there is suddenly some direct statement from Apple. That is only my view, but I have seen it many times.
This time, too, Apple says nothing about numbers. As I wrote before, “extraordinary” is not a number.
Don’t come to the store, then earlier dates
The facts speak for themselves. First, Apple Store employees were told to warn people not to come to the stores without a pre-order, because there would likely be no iPhone Duo to buy on launch day. A few days later, some buyers, mostly in Japan, saw their delivery dates move earlier, in one case from December straight to launch day.
So either demand really is as huge as Apple says, or people started canceling pre-orders on a big scale and units are freeing up. As the delivery keeps dragging on, I think a bigger part of the pre-orders may fall away. But we will only find out after some time, not tomorrow.
0% financing is not a bad thing
Readers under the MacRumors article write that they bought the Duo mainly thanks to monthly payments. One reader from Germany says he got it only because of a 0% plan with the option to upgrade after 11 months. Another says financing makes the market bigger.
I am sure of it. For a phone at this price to sell, people will mainly go for 0% installments. And if someone wants the phone and can buy it with 0%, that is better than overpaying, let’s say, another 10% to banks or the financial companies that run these loans. That is a good thing, not a bad one.
News for investors, not for customers
Who is this news for, one day before sales start? For me it is a sure thing: for investors. For the customer it is more of a joke. When we have to wait for the Duo for 3 months, the customer will rather be angry that Apple plans such big production for the next 12 months, and he still has to wait that many months for his phone.
Also on Evolt News: iPhone Duo sold out in 30 minutes · iPhone Duo reviews through pink glasses
Photo: Apple.
This article is opinion.
iPhone Duo orders: FAQ
Did Apple raise iPhone Duo orders?
According to DigiTimes, Apple told Foxconn and component suppliers to raise iPhone Duo production from 9.7 million to 14 million units, about 44% more. Apple has not confirmed any number.
What period does the 14 million iPhone Duo target cover?
DigiTimes says the 14 million unit target covers a full 12 months, not only the rest of 2026. Earlier, Securities Times reported almost 10 million units by the end of 2026.
Why is the iPhone Duo hard to produce?
Earlier reports pointed to problems with assembly, displays and hinges. DigiTimes says the higher target depends on how fast assembly can scale.
When can I get an iPhone Duo?
The iPhone Duo goes on sale on October 23, 2026, from $1,999. Within 30 minutes of pre-orders on October 16, US delivery estimates moved to January 25, and Apple Store staff warned there would likely be no walk-in stock on launch day.
What did Apple say about iPhone Duo demand?
Apple only said that demand for the iPhone Duo is “nothing short of extraordinary.” It has not shared pre-order or sales numbers.
Sources: DigiTimes, MacRumors, Securities Times, GF Securities, 9to5Mac.
Our Take
DigiTimes says Apple raised iPhone Duo orders by 44%, to 14 million units, but over 12 months, and Apple itself has confirmed nothing. For me, it is another leak to take with a grain of salt, and great news for investors one day before launch.
Pre-orders are not sales. Until Apple shows real numbers, my question stays the same: something still does not fit.
