Apple Surges Production of New Folding Phone After Order Spike

Fourteen million. That is the new target for Apple’s first folding smartphone, a figure that represents a significant leap from the initial plan of 9.7 million units over the next year. This adjustment comes as supply chain reports indicate the company has boosted production orders by more than 40% to keep pace with a surge in consumer interest.

The catalyst for this manufacturing shift was the pre-order launch on Friday, which saw delivery estimates extend almost immediately. Within minutes of the sales window opening, customers began seeing shipping dates pushed out, with some expecting to receive their devices as late as late January. While the initial delay created some ambiguity regarding whether the issue was a supply bottleneck or simply high interest, the latest data points clearly toward the latter.

Apple attributed the extended wait times to what it termed “extraordinary” demand. However, observers noted that the company frequently employs this specific phrasing during major product launches, making it a somewhat familiar description of market reception. To manage the influx and prevent secondary market speculation, the company also implemented a limit of two devices per customer.

As predicted by industry watchers, some early buyers have since received updated, earlier shipping dates. This adjustment aligns with findings from DigiTimes, which cites supply chain sources to confirm that Apple is actively ramping up its manufacturing output. The increase in shipment targets from the original 9.7 million to 14 million units reflects the company’s confidence that strong demand will persist throughout the first twelve months of the product's lifecycle.

Despite the hardware success, early adopters face a software transition period. Third-party applications have not yet been fully optimized for the new device's form factor, though Apple states that developer support is improving rapidly. Initial reviews based on a week of usage have consistently highlighted app compatibility as a key area of focus for the new platform.

Another notable aspect of the current model is the inclusion of Touch ID, a move viewed by some as a step back from previous generations. However, reports emerging today suggest that the company is already testing prototypes of the iPhone Duo 2 that feature Face ID, indicating that the hardware evolution will continue to address user preferences for biometric security options.