This article may contain affiliate links. Learn more on our Partner Program page.
Dozens of countries simultaneously, and after half an hour the delivery date was set for January: The iPhone Duo launch was originally intended to be much smaller. According to a new report, Apple initially planned to sell the foldable iPhone in only two markets – Germany would not have been among them.
The iPhone Duo has been available for pre-order since Friday, October 16, and just a few minutes later, the October 23 launch date was no longer available for new orders. Apple itself calls the demand for the iPhone Duo "nothing short of extraordinary". In his Power On newsletter at Bloomberg from October 18, Mark Gurman now offers an explanation for why supply became so tight – and considers Apple's decision a mistake.
Gurman is considered one of the best-informed sources regarding Apple's internal plans. His information about the original launch plan is based on unnamed sources and has not been confirmed by Apple. All specifications and pricing for the device can be found on the iPhone Duo facts page.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Apple reportedly originally planned to launch the iPhone Duo only in the USA and China.
- In fact, pre-orders began on October 16th in dozens of countries and regions, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
- According to Gurman, Apple was aware of severe supply shortages and still went ahead with the launch.
- He calls this a big mistake because Apple prioritized an early start in the quarter over demand.
What the report says
Apple originally planned to launch the iPhone Duo only in the US and China. However, the launch took a different turn: pre-orders began simultaneously in all countries of the first wave, with 28 more countries and regions following on October 30th.
Apple itself gives different figures for the number of countries included in the first wave. The German version of the announcement mentions more than 63 countries and regions, while the US version lists more than 70.
Gurman sums up his view without hesitation:
To put it simply: Apple made a big mistake here.
He provides the reasoning immediately:
The company knew there would be severe supply shortages, but went ahead with the launch anyway – prioritizing the desire to bring the device to market early in its first fiscal quarter over meeting demand.
Gurman said this would disappoint many of the buyers who most urgently wanted the device.
Two decisions against tight production
The criticism focuses on two key decisions, which can be traced back to the organization's own records. The first concerned the date, the second the number of participating countries.
| Time | What is known |
|---|---|
| around mid-August | According to Gurman, Apple is temporarily anticipating a sales launch only in November |
| mid-September | Final assembly at Foxconn achieves a yield of around 60 percent (Jiemian) |
| October 16 | Pre-order in the first wave, delivery within half an hour on January 25, 2027 |
| October 18th | Gurman: Launch originally planned only for the USA and China |
Gurman had already mentioned in his report on the demo units in US stores that Apple had considered a later launch date. The information comes from a report on final assembly at Foxconn, which relies on a single source within the supply chain. The current report adds that the number of launch countries also appears to have increased later.
The first fiscal quarter Gurman is referring to is Apple's Christmas quarter, from October to the end of December. The quarterly figures on November 2nd, however, still cover the quarter ending in September and therefore do not include the iPhone Duo.
Why a broad start for Germany still counts
I only partially agree with Gurman's criticism. Had Apple stuck to its original plan, the iPhone Duo wouldn't have been available for order in Germany on October 16th. Germany, Austria, and Switzerland would have had to wait for a later release, without a specific date and without a place in the queue.
So the situation is sobering, but manageable. Those who ordered on Friday know their delivery date, even though stores are not supposed to have any devices available for customers without a pre-order on the day of sale. For buyers in this country, the broad launch was therefore the better scenario: a delivery date in January is preferable to none at all.
Gurman's objection, however, applies to the USA. There, a launch in only two markets would have meant more devices for fewer buyers and could have potentially brought the sales day to fruition without months of waiting.
Did you think Apple made the right decision by launching the iPhone Duo in dozens of countries instead of just the US and China – or would you have preferred a later launch with immediate availability? Let us know in the comments which approach you would have chosen.
