iPhone Duo supply constraints have no end date, as per Apple CEO John Ternus. Apple is replacing the iPhone Duo units that came back with display problems, and Ternus puts those returns at a very small share of units.
The iPhone Duo went on sale on October 23, after the September quarter closed, so Apple’s fourth quarter earnings hold no iPhone Duo sales. Ternus’s remarks are the main guide to supply for now, and they come with no delivery date for buyers to plan around.
iPhone Duo supply constraints have no end date
Ternus said in an interview with Reuters that the iPhone Duo is constrained today and that Apple cannot predict when supply will meet demand. He described the ramp as going well, with Apple pushing to get phones to buyers as fast as it can.
Pre-orders opened on October 16 with the delivery estimates for new orders already pointing to late January. Apple added 28 more countries and regions on October 30 to the more than 70 that got the iPhone Duo on October 23.
Mark Gurman reported on October 30 that Apple sent about 80% of its launch stock to its own stores, leaving 20% for delivery orders, walk-ins and reservations. New online orders then showed January 25 to 29 windows.
Apple is replacing iPhone Duo units over display problems
Ternus said only a very small share of iPhone Duo units have come back over display problems and that Apple is replacing them. Apple has not put a number on the affected units. On October 26, Apple said the inner display cracking affects a small number of units and told owners to contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Apple has also told stores and service providers to handle the cracking as a standard repair, with no recall and no repair program. Gurman said most people he knows who asked an Apple Store for a swap left without one because stores had no stock, and that AppleCare may fare better.
Without AppleCare+, Apple’s estimated United States inner display repair fee is $999, which falls to $99 with coverage. AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss also includes Express Replacement Service, which ships a replacement so owners do not wait for a repair.
The September quarter held no iPhone Duo sales
Apple’s fourth quarter iPhone sales of $57.58 billion include the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max and no iPhone Duo sales. The quarter ran through September 26 and held nine days of iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max sales, so the first iPhone Duo sales count in the December quarter.
Apple is spacing out its iPhone launches under Ternus, who took over as CEO in September, with the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo this year and other iPhone models expected next year.
