Apple launches iPhone Duo pre-orders despite known supply constraints, analyst says

Apple began accepting pre-orders for its new iPhone Duo on Friday across more than 70 countries, even though the company was aware of "severe supply constraints" stemming from manufacturing challenges, Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman reported. Gurman, writing in his Power On newsletter, said the decision appears to prioritize an early launch in the fiscal first quarter rather than ensuring sufficient stock for early buyers.

"Let me cut to the chase: Apple made a major mistake here," Gurman wrote. "The company knew there would be severe supply constraints but went ahead with the launch anyway, apparently prioritizing a desire to get the device on the market early in its fiscal first quarter over satisfying demand. That will disappoint many of the early adopters most eager to buy it."

Apple had initially planned to roll out the iPhone Duo in the United States and China before expanding to other markets, but it expanded pre-order availability to a broader set of countries. Within 30 minutes of opening pre-orders, the company updated its estimated shipping dates to around January 25 for most regions. Apple traditionally sets conservative delivery estimates, leaving open the possibility that some customers may receive their devices earlier than projected.