Apple plans to reduce component orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max by roughly 15% this October after demand for the new handsets came in below its expectations, according to a report by Japan's Nikkei.

The move comes less than a month after the phones went on sale and reflects an effort to align production with actual market demand and avoid building more units than consumers need. The cut does not signal a crisis for the iPhone 18 Pro line, nor plans to drop any model, but rather a recalibration based on current sales indicators.

The Nikkei findings run counter to other reports pointing to strong performance in China. In September, a report from RD Observation said demand for the new phones in China had exceeded that for the iPhone 17 series, with some stores posting revenue double that of the 2025 models.

The conflicting accounts may point to uneven performance across markets, though Apple does not publish detailed sales figures for individual models, making it difficult to pinpoint the reasons behind the slowdown.

One possible factor is growing interest in the iPhone Duo, Apple's foldable phone, whose new design marks a departure from the company's traditional handsets. Positive impressions from attendees who tried the device at the launch event have fuelled that interest, potentially prompting some prospective iPhone 18 Pro buyers to hold off.

However, reports also indicate low manufacturing yields for the iPhone Duo, which could limit available supply when initial pre-orders open and make the device harder to obtain at launch.