Apple jumps on production of its first folding phone as orders surge

Apple is ramping up manufacturing for its first folding smartphone after seeing an unexpected spike in customer interest.

The move comes after supply chain sources indicated that the company has increased its order targets by more than forty percent. This adjustment is a direct response to what Apple has labeled as extraordinary demand for the new hardware.

The story began on Friday when pre-orders for the device officially opened. Almost immediately, customers noticed that their estimated delivery dates were slipping. Some buyers were looking at wait times that stretched into late January. At the time, it was unclear if these delays were due to a lack of inventory or simply a massive rush of interested buyers. The latest reporting suggests the latter is the primary driver.

Apple stated that the extended wait times were a result of the high volume of orders for its inaugural folding model. The company used the phrase extraordinary demand to describe the situation, a term it frequently employs during the launch of its standard iPhone lineup. To manage the flow of orders and combat potential scalping, Apple also implemented a limit of two units per customer.

Following the initial confusion, many early customers began receiving updated shipping estimates that were earlier than their original projections. This shift aligns with reports from DigiTimes, which cite supply chain sources indicating that Apple is actively boosting production levels to meet the current need.

The data suggests that Apple anticipates this strong demand will persist over the coming year. As a result, the company has raised its shipment targets for the first twelve months significantly. The new goal stands at fourteen million units, a substantial increase from the previous target of nine point seven million.

While the hardware is generating buzz, early adopters face some software hurdles. Third-party applications have not yet been fully optimized for the new device's unique form factor. Apple maintains that the situation is improving quickly as developers update their software to support the phone. Initial reviews from users who have had the device for a week highlight app support as one of five key takeaways.

Another point of discussion in those early reviews is the inclusion of Touch ID for security. Some observers viewed this as a step back from the Face ID standard seen in other recent models. However, a report released today indicates that Apple is already testing prototypes for a second version of the device. These newer models are reportedly being tested with Face ID technology, suggesting the company is looking to refine the user experience for future releases.