Apple blames ‘extraordinary’ demand as foldable iPhones sell out

{"text":[[{"start":8.06,"text":"Apple on Friday said its foldable iPhone Duo had seen “nothing short of extraordinary” demand, as the device sold out on the company’s website until next year within hours of going on sale."}],[{"start":20.06,"text":"The $5tn tech group said it would continue to accept online orders for the phone, which costs upwards of $1,999 and was unveiled last month by new chief executive John Ternus."}],[{"start":33,"text":"The Duo marks the biggest-ever design shake-up for Apple’s best-selling smartphone, which still accounts for about half of the company’s sales two decades after it was introduced."}],[{"start":43.24,"text":"But along with the rest of the consumer electronics industry, Apple has faced component supply shortages this year — particularly in memory chips — that have led it to fall behind demand and raise prices across its line-up."}],[{"start":56.04,"text":"Apple had originally promised delivery of the Duo by October 23, but within hours of orders opening, delivery times through Apple’s website had slipped into late January. US mobile carriers also saw delivery times for new orders pushed back."}],[{"start":70.68,"text":"“The pre-order demand for iPhone Duo, our first foldable iPhone, has been nothing short of extraordinary,” Apple said in a statement."}],[{"start":78.08,"text":"“We are working hard to get this revolutionary new product into customers’ hands as quickly as possible,” it added."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":85.24,"text":"It is rare for delivery dates on Apple’s products to slip to such an extent. The company is known for efficient management of its global supply chain."}],[{"start":93.68,"text":"During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2022, some deliveries of its iPhone 14 models slipped by more than one month due to factory shutdowns in China, but a multi-month delay for an iPhone is almost unknown."}],[{"start":106.68,"text":"When the Duo was unveiled last month, analysts expected it to target a relatively narrow group of high-end customers willing to pay a premium."}],[{"start":115.12,"text":"Apple has been pushing into new designs for the iPhone — including last year’s ultra-thin iPhone Air — as it looks to give customers with ageing devices a reason to upgrade."}],[{"start":124.84,"text":"The Duo can cost as much as $3,200 with maximum storage, a record price for an iPhone. The latest iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which went on sale last month, have also seen strong sales as Apple heads into its critical holiday quarter, despite the broader global smartphone market contracting."}],[{"start":144.8,"text":"According to a report from market intelligence firm Counterpoint Research this week, iPhone 18 Pro models saw a “stronger launch than their predecessors”, particularly in China and India."}],[{"start":155.76,"text":"This week, Apple executive chair Tim Cook told Chinese media that the company’s suite of Apple Intelligence AI features, co-developed with Alibaba, had finally been approved by regulators, paving the way for its launch in the country more than two years after it was first announced."}],[{"start":176.2,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1792218171_8874.mp3"}