Apple has raised its iPhone Duo shipment target by 44%, from 9.7 million units to 14 million. The increase follows strong pre-orders for Apple’s first foldable iPhone, which goes on sale tomorrow, October 23.
The figures come from an exclusive DigiTimes report that puts the new target at 14 million units over 12 months. The report says the higher number follows strong consumer demand for the foldable.
The 14 Million Target Spans a Full 12 Months
That window makes the number hard to compare with calendar-year forecasts. Counterpoint expects Apple to sell 6 million iPhone Duo units by the end of 2026, which leaves about ten weeks of sales between launch and December 31.
The increase is also larger than the one reported earlier this month. A separate report said Apple had added 30% to iPhone Duo orders, with the total staying under 10 million units. The 9.7 million starting point in the DigiTimes report sits just under that ceiling.
At the $1,999 starting price, 14 million units works out to about $28 billion in sales. Higher storage tiers would push that figure up.
Strong Pre-Order Demand Is Running Into Low Assembly Yields
Apple opened iPhone Duo pre-orders on October 16, and delivery estimates slipped to late January within minutes. Apple described the demand as “nothing short of extraordinary” and said it would keep taking orders online.
Apple has also started blocking iPhone Duo orders above two units. Supply was always expected to be tight, since earlier reports pointed to low assembly yields and a hinge that proved difficult to build.
A supply chain source put Foxconn’s final assembly yield for the iPhone Duo just above 60% in mid-September. That source also said it could take another six months to a year for the line to reach a mature yield. Samsung Display’s foldable OLED panels and the hinge parts had low yields of their own.
IDC expects global foldable smartphone shipments to grow 12.6% to 22.9 million units this year and reach nearly 27 million units next year. The iPhone Duo goes on sale tomorrow, October 23, from $1,999, with a 7.6-inch inner display, a 5.4-inch outer display, the A20 Pro chip and storage options from 256GB to 2TB.
