Apple ramps up iPhone Duo production as demand surges

Apple has sharply increased production of the iPhone Duo, according to supply chain sources, after pre-orders for its first folding phone went live and delivery dates began slipping within about a minute of the window opening.

The report from DigiTimes says Apple has boosted shipment targets from 9.7 million units to 14 million units over the device's first 12 months on the market. The company's stated expectations for the phone have not changed, but the new figures suggest it is preparing for a sustained level of sales.

Pre-orders opened on a recent Friday, and customers quickly reported extended delivery dates, with some estimates pushing into late January. Apple attributed the delay to what it described as "extraordinary" demand for the device, though the company routinely uses similar language for new iPhone launches. It also capped orders at two per customer to curb scalping.

Some customers who placed orders for the phone were later given earlier shipping estimates than they initially received. That shift lines up with the reported increase in production capacity.

Apple's first folding phone faces a rough start on the software side. Early customers are working with third-party apps that are not yet optimized for the device, though Apple says the situation is improving rapidly as developers add support. App support emerged as one of five key takeaways from the first reviews based on a week of usage.

Another of those takeaways concerned the device's Touch ID setup, which represents a downgrade from other iPhone models. Apple is already at work on the next version of the hardware: reports indicate the company is testing iPhone Duo 2 prototypes that include Face ID.

Apple has not publicly commented on production figures. The company's decision to scale up manufacturing signals it expects demand to hold steady well beyond the initial rush.