Apple Opens Orders for iPhone Duo as Initial Supplies Sell Out

Apple opened global pre-orders for its first foldable smartphone on Friday, but rapid consumer demand and limited supply quickly pushed estimated delivery dates for the new device into early 2027.

The device, named the iPhone Duo, carries a starting price of $1,999 for the 256GB model and reaches $3,199 for a top-tier version with two terabytes of storage. Pre-orders began at 8 a.m. Eastern time ahead of the official store release on Oct. 23.

The launch marks Apple's first entry into the foldable phone market, stepping into a high-end hardware category where competitors like Samsung Electronics and Google have sold multiple generations of devices. Telecom industry analysts expect the release to stimulate consumer demand after global smartphone shipments dropped 22 percent in the third quarter.

Apple delayed its entry into folding screens for years to overcome technical hurdles surrounding display durability and visible screen creases, according to John Ternus, the chief executive officer of Apple. In an interview with TIME, Ternus criticized early foldable releases from competing brands, describing them as "cheap and crappy."

The iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch folding internal screen and a 5.4-inch external display, powered by Apple's A20 Pro processor inside a lightweight titanium frame. Hardware engineers designed a hinge containing more than 100 individual components paired with a custom polymer surface to render the center crease almost invisible.

Apple also revamped its iOS software to accommodate the flexible display, shifting key navigation controls and the application dock to the right side of the screen for easier thumb access. Instead of using facial recognition technology, the device incorporates a fingerprint sensor directly into the power button.

Initial supply allocated for Apple's online store sold out within minutes after ordering opened. Estimated delivery dates for new orders placed directly on Apple's website rapidly slipped to Jan. 25, 2027, across all color variations and storage sizes.

To attract subscribers, major wireless carriers including AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon introduced promotional trade-in credits of up to $1,200 for eligible customers. As delivery backorders grew on official channels, third-party resellers on online marketplaces such as eBay listed confirmed launch-day pre-orders for prices reaching $5,000.

Apple reportedly raised its production targets for the foldable device by 30 percent in anticipation of strong customer interest, according to China's Securities Times. However, initial supply remains tightly constrained by manufacturing complexities and widespread component shortages across the tech industry.

Addressing general supply constraints during a conference call with investors earlier this year, Tim Cook, then chief executive of Apple, noted the challenges of meeting elevated demand. "If you look forward into the current quarter, the September quarter, we continue to expect high levels of demand," Cook said.

In South Korea, the country's three major mobile carriers began taking pre-orders simultaneously on Friday, rolling out incentives such as trade-in bonuses, accessory raffles, and launch-day delivery guarantees. Orders also went live in India, where the base model is priced at 2,99,900 rupees.

Despite the steep price tag, long shipping delays, and limited availability, Apple described customer demand for its initial pre-orders as "extraordinary."

Retail store availability and general open sales will begin on Oct. 23 at 8 a.m. local time, though industry observers warn that store inventories are expected to remain severely limited throughout the end of the year.