iPhone Duo sells out, deliveries slip to 2027

Corrected 19 Oct: 'Three months' is in no source. Delivery dates vary by outlet (25 or 29 January 2027). All corrections

Apple's first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, opened for pre-orders on October 16, and delivery dates slid into next year within hours. Apple called demand "nothing short of extraordinary." If you want one soon, you will probably wait.

What happened

Pre-orders opened Friday, October 16, 2026, according to 9to5Mac. Delivery estimates moved from late October to November, then December, and then January. MacRumors reports that within minutes the estimate went from October 23 to November, and by 5:30 a.m. Pacific it had reached January 25, 2027. Apple no longer offers 2026 delivery for new orders.

Apple gave a statement saying pre-order demand has been "nothing short of extraordinary." It added that it is working hard to get the product to customers quickly and will keep taking online orders. 9to5Mac says the statement went to CNBC. MacRumors says it went to the Financial Times. The wording is the same in both.

MacDailyNews reports the phone sold out in minutes and that orders placed then would ship on Friday, January 29, 2027.

Key facts

Price: the Duo starts at $1,999 for the 256 GB model, per CBS News. MacRumors gives a range of $1,999 to $3,199, depending on storage up to 2 TB.
Release date: October 23, 2026, according to MacRumors. The first orders are set to arrive that day.
Delays: in some countries, including Brazil, 9to5Mac says delivery estimates moved into early February.
Resale: 9to5Mac says sellers on eBay and X are asking as much as $10,000.
Analyst view: an analyst quoted by CBS News said demand is "running well ahead of supply out of the gates."

Background

Before pre-orders opened, there were warnings about supply. 9to5Mac points to a report from September 15, 2026, that said early supply could be limited. MacRumors adds that reports before pre-orders cited manufacturing difficulties that could hold back supply.

CBS News says the Duo was unveiled at Apple's September event. It describes a phone about the size of a passport when folded, with the largest display of any Apple phone when open. It also has a split-screen feature to run two apps at once.

What it means for you

If you pre-ordered on the first day, expect to wait until late January. If you want one now, you have two choices: wait, or pay a reseller far above Apple's price.

Our take: avoid reseller listings. The prices are huge, and there is no way to know the seller is honest. Apple's own site is the safest way to order.

MacRumors points out that Apple has sometimes shipped constrained products earlier than first expected, but it offers no promise. 9to5Mac notes that some people want Apple to identify and cancel orders placed by resellers.

What happens next

Apple says it will keep taking orders online. MacRumors reports Apple's website says to check back October 24 for availability, which may mean store pickup stock soon after launch. Apple has not said whether walk-in stock will be there on October 23.

Our take: it is not clear if the delays come from huge demand, low supply, or both. Watch for any word from Apple about supply.

FAQ

When can I get an iPhone Duo?

New online orders now show late January 2027, per MacRumors and MacDailyNews. The official release date is October 23.

How much does it cost?

It starts at $1,999 for the 256 GB model, according to CBS News. MacRumors says prices go up to $3,199.

Did Apple say how many it sold?

No. CBS News says Apple did not immediately say how many pre-orders it received.

Sources

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