Overview
- Apple began taking preorders on Friday, October 16 at 5:00 a.m. PT in more than 70 countries and regions with first deliveries and in‑store pickup scheduled to begin on October 23 and a broader wave on October 30.
- Apple’s online store experienced downtime before the sale and many launch‑day delivery allocations sold out within minutes, leaving popular color and storage combinations unavailable for launch day.
- Multiple supply‑chain reports say final assembly yields were low because of hinge and foldable panel issues, and suppliers are expected to ship only a few million units through the rest of 2026 which will keep inventory tight.
- The iPhone Duo is Apple’s priciest iPhone yet, priced from $1,999 to $3,199, but Apple, carriers and retailers are offering trade‑in credits, financing and carrier promotions that can cut out‑of‑pocket cost by several hundred to as much as about $1,200 for eligible buyers.
- Apple published service pricing showing very high out‑of‑warranty fees for inner displays and other repairs while AppleCare+ cuts those costs dramatically and the Duo’s nano‑texture cover layer is replaceable for $19 with AppleCare+ or $49 without.