---
title: "Apple Cannot Predict When iPhone Duo Shortage Will End: Ternus Confirms Screen Crack Issues"
description: "Apple CEO John Ternus confirmed the iPhone Duo shortage and did not deny cases of screen cracks, calling them a \"very insignificant percentage.\" Delivery timelines in the official store still point to late January."
date: 2026-11-04T02:52:19.708Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/apple-iphone-duo-shortage-and-screen-cracks
tags: [apple, iphone-duo, foldable-iphone, john-ternus, apple-earnings, screen-crack]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Apple Cannot Predict When iPhone Duo Shortage Will End: Ternus Confirms Screen Crack Issues

![New foldable iPhone Duo smartphone on a table next to its branded white box](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/04/apple-iphone-duo-deficit-i-treshiny-ekranov/apple-iphone-duo-deficit-i-treshiny-ekranov-1.webp)

## Key Points

- John Ternus acknowledged the iPhone Duo shortage and did not deny cases of internal screen cracks, calling them a "very insignificant percentage."
- Apple reported record results for Q4 of fiscal 2026, but Duo data are missing from the report since sales started in October.
- iPhone Duo delivery timelines in the official store have not changed since October 16 and point to late January.
- Apple cannot predict when supply and demand will balance out, but claims successful production ramp-up.

Against the backdrop of record financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Wall Street's attention has shifted to the company's main new product — the foldable iPhone Duo. In an interview with Reuters, Apple CEO John Ternus explicitly acknowledged that there is currently a shortage of the device and did not deny the existence of internal screen cracking issues. At the same time, he emphasized that such cases are "after all few," and returns due to display malfunction were processed for only a "very insignificant percentage" of sold devices.

### A Record Quarter with No Duo Figures

Apple reported record financial results for Q4 of fiscal 2026, with metrics generally exceeding Wall Street analysts' expectations. However, sales data for the iPhone Duo are absent from the latest quarterly report, which is explained by simple chronology. The reporting period covers July through September, while sales of the foldable smartphone started only in October. That is why Wall Street is showing natural interest in how sales of the new product are progressing, especially in the context of revenue forecasts for the current quarter, where the iPhone Duo's contribution may already prove noticeable.

### A Shortage That Is Not Rushing to End

Regarding shipments, Apple cannot yet say when supply and demand for the new model will balance out. "Today, there is a shortage of the Duo. Production volumes are ramping up successfully, and we are doing everything possible to get the device to everyone who wants one as quickly as possible, but at this point, we cannot predict exactly when supply and demand will equalize," John Ternus stated. The company did not name specific timelines, limiting itself to stating that production is being scaled.

### Delivery Timelines: Late January Unchanged

The practical picture confirms management's words: delivery timelines for the iPhone Duo when ordering in the official Apple online store still point to late January. Notably, this timeline has not changed since October 16, when the first batch of devices via pre-orders sold out completely. Thus, since the start of sales and the exhaustion of the first batch, the logistical window for buyers has effectively "frozen" at a single value, indirectly indicating a persisting gap between demand and available volumes.

### Screen Cracks: The Problem Exists, But Is "Insignificant"

On the issue of screen cracks appearing on the iPhone Duo, Ternus was brief and essentially reiterated what the company had stated earlier. The problem does exist, but affects only a very small number of devices. Returns due to display malfunction were processed for only a "very insignificant percentage" of iPhone Duos, the CEO stated. Apple replaces such units with new ones. The wording is important: the company does not deny the fact of the defect itself, but positions it as statistically insignificant, which is typical for vendor reactions to early reports of display issues in foldable form factors.

### What This Means for the Market

Collectively, Ternus's statements paint a picture of a classic launch of a sought-after new product: high demand outpacing production ramp-up, and early quality signals that the company aims to minimize. For investors, the key question remains how quickly Apple will be able to balance supply and demand and whether the shortage will impact current-quarter revenue. For consumers, the practical conclusion is unequivocal: when buying an iPhone Duo, one should focus on delivery timelines in the official store, which at the time of publication still point to late January, and if screen cracks are discovered, the device is subject to replacement with a new one.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [В Apple «не могут предсказать», когда пройдёт дефицит iPhone Duo window-new](https://3dnews.ru/1150780/v-apple-ne-mogut-predskazat-kogda-proydyot-defitsit-iphone-duo) - Primary source: John Ternus's interview with Reuters, reported by 3dnews. Confirmed Duo shortage, absence of Duo data in the July–September report, delivery timelines through late January since October 16, and a "very insignificant percentage" of returns due to screen cracks.

## FAQ

### Did Apple confirm the iPhone Duo shortage?

Yes. CEO John Ternus stated directly in an interview with Reuters that there is currently a shortage of the iPhone Duo, and the company cannot predict when supply and demand will equalize.

### Are there problems with screen cracks on the iPhone Duo?

Apple does not deny the issue: Ternus confirmed that cases of internal screen cracks exist, but affect only a "very insignificant percentage" of devices, which the company replaces with new ones.

### When can you get an iPhone Duo when ordering from the official store?

Delivery timelines in the official Apple online store still point to late January; this timeline has not changed since October 16, when the first pre-order batch sold out.

### Why is there no data on the iPhone Duo in Apple's Q4 fiscal 2026 report?

Because the reporting period covers July through September, while iPhone Duo sales started only in October, so their revenue was not included in this report.