Overview
- Apple opened iPhone Duo preorders on Friday, October 16, with launch‑day deliveries set for October 23 but many orders slipping into early 2027.
- Demand outpaced supply within minutes as Apple’s online store experienced outages and queued checkouts, and launch‑day inventory sold out almost instantly.
- Manufacturing reports point to low final‑assembly yields for foldable panels and hinge components, which Apple and suppliers cite as the reason for the constrained initial stock.
- The Duo starts at $1,999 for 256GB and tops out at $3,199 for 2TB, and Apple’s published repair fees include a $49 replaceable cover layer and a $229 battery replacement while AppleCare+ cuts those costs substantially.
- Carriers and Apple are using trade‑in credits, financing through Apple Upgrade and Klarna, and limited demo allocations to manage demand, a strategy that may extend shortages but could accelerate wider consumer interest in foldable phones.