Conflicting supply chain leaks are casting doubt on the iPhone Duo's China availability. While the global launch is slated for today, that is September 9, 2026, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series, new information suggests the phone could debut much later in China due to inventory limitations.
Apple Could Delay the iPhone Duo Launch in China
According to leaker Instant Digital on Weibo, inventory limitations will likely force Apple to prioritise specific regions, potentially pushing the China release to a later date. However, the tipster did not share any information on the exact launch date or timeline.
Adding to that, the tipster also highlighted issues with the current state of eSIM enrollment in China. He says that since the iPhone Duo will be eSIM-only, one of the reasons for the delay could be to allow carriers to figure out eSIM issues and ensure a smoother onboarding experience.
This aligns with a recent report by ChannelNews suggesting a staggered, country-by-country rollout similar to the 2024 Vision Pro launch. This could initially restrict sales to the United States.
One of the reasons for this move could be to ensure quality assurance. For those unaware, a previous report from Nikkei Asia indicated that the assembly lines were struggling to manufacture more than a few hundred units a day back in August 2026.
That's not ideal considering Apple plans to sell 10 million iPhone Duos. The reason for the slow manufacturing is allegedly due to bottlenecks caused by extended durability testing for the complex folding display and hinge mechanisms.
Earlier rumours suggested Apple had run into issues with the hinge mechanism, but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has disputed the same. In a recent interview, Gurman dismissed rumours of iPhone Duo manufacturing delays pushing the launch into late October or November 2026.
Apple's Surprise and Shine event is scheduled for today, and the company's new CEO John Ternus is expected to take the stage. All the spotlight will be on the iPhone 18 Pro series and iPhone Duo, while the firm is also expected to launch Apple Watch Series 12 and AirPods 5. Until then, stay tuned.
Related Articles
