iPhone Duo went on sale on Friday, and delivery estimates shifted to late January within hours.

The company said it was working to meet demand for the new model. "The pre-order demand for iPhone Duo, our first foldable iPhone, has been nothing short of extraordinary," Apple said in a statement.

Pressure on Apple's Supply Chain

Apple initially scheduled iPhone Duo deliveries for October 23. The sudden change in estimated delivery dates points to a gap between demand and available supply. US mobile carriers also reported delays for new orders.

Component shortages have affected consumer electronics companies this year, particularly in memory chips. The constraints have pushed Apple behind customer demand and contributed to price increases across its product range.

Such extended delivery delays are unusual for Apple, which has built a reputation for managing its global supply chain efficiently. During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2022, deliveries of some iPhone 14 models were delayed by more than a month following factory shutdowns in China.

Premium Pricing Fails to Deter Buyers

Apple unveiled the foldable model last month under new chief executive John Ternus. The device represents a major redesign of the iPhone. The iPhone Duo starts at USD 1,999, while the highest-storage configuration can cost USD 3,200. Analysts had expected the premium pricing to appeal mainly to a limited group of affluent buyers.

Apple has also recorded strong sales of its iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, which launched last month. The performance comes as the global smartphone market contracts.

Counterpoint Research reported this week that the iPhone 18 Pro models had a 'stronger launch than their predecessors', particularly in China and India.