Apple's Foldable iPhone Duo Suffers From Hinge Production Constraints

Apple's first foldable iPhone, the Duo, is facing tighter launch supply due to 'hinge constraints' instead of weaker demand. Analyst Jeff Pu lowered his shipment forecast from 7 million to 6 million units this year.

The production issue could limit early availability as Apple scales its first foldable design for global distribution. The gap between expected iPhone Duo volume and projected Pro shipments highlights the difficulty in manufacturing foldable hardware at a large scale.

Apple expects around 72 million iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max units to ship during 2026, which is roughly twelve times the expected iPhone Duo volume. The production challenge lies in hinge manufacturing, which requires tight tolerances and strict quality checks.