Macworld
If you’re hoping to wait in line at an Apple Store on Friday in the hopes of scoring an iPhone Duo, you might want to reconsider. Some stores will have some units to sell to those who didn’t preorder, but not many, and they’re going to be gone in a flash.
In a statement to Reuters and other news outlets, Apple said:
On Friday morning, our teams look forward to welcoming customers at Apple Stores to experience iPhone Duo and the incredible iPhone line-up for themselves,” Apple said in a statement. “Apple Stores will have limited iPhone Duo available for walk-in customers, and we’re working hard to get this revolutionary new product into customers’ hands as quickly as possible.
Despite the eye-watering starting price of $1,999, preorders for the iPhone Duo at the Apple Store are now listing a date of January 25 for nearly every configuration, pushing delivery of the first folding iPhone far beyond the holiday season. Apple may send a small portion of new iPhone Duo shipments for walk-in purchases at Apple Stores, but between Apple preorders and carrier stores, it’s safe to say that it’s going to be really hard to get one if you haven’t already preordered.
In the past, stores have gotten daily shipments of small numbers of phones, so if you’re not lucky on Friday, you should be able to check back.
New iPhones are always a hot item and often slightly backordered in specific configurations or colors, but the folding iPhone is reportedly very difficult to manufacture, leading to smaller volumes and a lower production rate than something like the iPhone 18 Pro.