Apple Warns It Is Hard to Predict iPhone Duo Constraints
Apple Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan addressed ongoing shipping constraints for the new iPhone Duo during an earnings call, noting that it remains difficult to predict when supply and demand will balance.
Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer
iPhone Duo Production Constraints
Apple Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan acknowledged the shipping delays plaguing the new iPhone Duo during the company’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call on Monday, but offered little clarity on when customers can expect relief. The delays were just one point of concern during an earnings call filled with questions about the rising costs of memory chips, driven by soaring demand from the AI industry.
“iPhone Duo is constrained as of today. The ramp is going well, and we’re working hard to get this revolutionary new product into the hands of our customers as quickly as possible. But at this time, it’s really hard to predict when supply and demand will be in balance,” Khan stated during the call.
Customer Impact and Delivery Delays
Customers who did not wait in line at an Apple Store or immediately jump on preorders are now seeing ship times stretch into next year. Meanwhile, Verizon has been apologizing to its customers for the delays by offering gift cards to make up for the inconvenience.
In an October report from Financial Times, Apple described demand for the Duo as “nothing short of extraordinary,” after the device sold out on the company’s website within hours of going on sale, pushing delivery dates deep into the following year.
Broader Industry Supply Pressures
The prolonged shipping delays are notable given Apple’s reputation for its highly efficient supply chain. However, the tech giant is hardly alone in facing supply pressures. Soaring demand for memory chips from the AI industry has driven up component costs for hardware makers across the board, threatening to push device prices even higher.
Apple, too, has raised prices on a number of products, Khan noted on the call, adding that those decisions were made “reluctantly” in light of rising operational and component expenses.
Partnerships and Leadership Remarks
In another sign of the company’s efforts to meet intense demand for the Duo, Apple stated that it is “deepening” its partnership with Perryman, a titanium producer responsible for supplying materials for the new foldable device.
“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,” Apple CEO John Ternus said during his opening remarks.
Sources
- TechCrunchApple says it’s ‘hard to predict’ when iPhone Duo constraints will improve
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