Face palm: The iPhone Duo was announced earlier this month after years of leaks, rumors and speculation and is expected to go on sale next month. However, Foxconn, the contract manufacturer responsible for producing the device, is reportedly facing severe production constraints that could limit early production.
According to an unnamed insider quoted by Chinese media outlet Jiemian News, final assembly yields for the duo were just over 60% as of September 17. It could take another six months to a year for Foxconn to increase yields to a more sophisticated level while maintaining Apple’s exacting quality standards.
The insider added that Foxconn has continually adjusted equipment, assembly processes and production settings to increase yields to acceptable levels. Suppliers are also reportedly pushing Apple to relax certain quality requirements to speed up production and meet expected demand.
What makes matters worse is that the problems extend far beyond Foxconn. According to the report, several suppliers are also experiencing production issues, with Samsung Display named as one of the hardest hit companies. The company is reportedly suffering from low yields for its foldable OLED panels and hinges, largely due to last-minute design changes from Apple.
Another supply chain source claimed that Apple’s total production target for the iPhone Duo in 2026 is between six and eight million units – much less than the 20 to 30 million units typically shipped over the entire production cycle of an iPhone Pro or Pro Max. Another source reportedly confirmed that Apple’s sales forecast for the iPhone Duo is over five million units.
According to a separate report from MyDrivers, several suppliers have advised Apple that they may have to choose between yield and performance as the entire iPhone Duo manufacturing ecosystem faces serious production issues. However, the report did not reveal the identity of any of the suppliers who pushed Apple to lower its quality standards to meet production targets.
The sources said that ramping up production under the current restrictions could improve production, but at the expense of yield as the number of defective units is expected to skyrocket, especially if Apple does not want to compromise on quality. The increased production would therefore result in higher scrap costs, which may not be in Apple’s best interest.
Apple introduced the iPhone Duo at its “Surprise and Shine” event in Cupertino, California, earlier this month. The device starts at $1,999 for the base 256GB model, much less than the rumored $3,000 to $3,500 and very similar to the $2,099 asking price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.
