Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, officially went on sale on October 23rd, with the first batch of all models selling out quickly. The second batch of deliveries is expected to be delayed until January 22nd, 2027. Supply chain sources indicate that Apple has asked its contract manufacturers to accelerate production and has added approximately 30% more orders.
Driven by stronger-than-expected demand, market research institutions have raised their 2026 inventory forecast from 6 million units to 8-10 million units, predicting that shipments could reach as high as 33 million units in 2027, potentially capturing about 40% of the global foldable phone market and challenging Samsung's leading position.
Currently, production bottlenecks are mainly concentrated on insufficient hinge supply and low assembly yield rates. Foxconn is responsible for exclusive assembly, TSMC manufactures the core processors, a joint venture between Foxconn and Shin Zu Shing supplies key hinge components, and Amphenol is the second supplier. If the production capacity and yield rate issues are resolved, these supply chain companies are expected to benefit.
