Iphone Duo Vanishes Fast as Stores Face Surging Demand

WHO:

CNBC - Beijing scalper Alex Wang offered customers an extra 3,000 Chinese yuan ($448) to buy their newly purchased iPhone Duo; he said, “I feel the Duo can be sold with a higher price for half a month,” citing tight supply.

CNBC - Apple customer Mary Tong was first in a line of about 100 people at the Sanlitun store; she arrived at 6 a.m. and said, “Apple has been the laggard” and “I think many Chinese do prefer foldable phones.”

Yahoo Finance - Apple CEO John Ternus was pictured holding the iPhone Duo in a Reuters photograph credited to Carlos Barría.

CNET - Crowds of customers camped outside stores before the iPhone Duo became available.

Fast Company - Apple said demand for the iPhone Duo was “nothing short of extraordinary,” according to an Apple spokesperson quoted by the Financial Times.

Fast Company - Apple Stores in select markets and mobile carriers including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile were identified as possible places to buy the phone in person.

WHAT:

MacRumors - Apple Store pickup reservations began reappearing online in Australia, China, Japan, and South Korea, but availability was extremely limited; a single Australian pickup unit was listed and disappeared before publication.

CNBC - Counterpoint Research identifies China as the world’s largest market for foldable phones, although foldables remain a niche product globally.

ABC7 Los Angeles - The iPhone Duo has a virtually crease-free display and, when opened, transforms into a mini-tablet; folded, it is designed to fit into a pocket.

ABC7 Los Angeles - Customers said they had been unable to preorder the phone online, prompting them to wait in person; one described the launch line as having “almost a community feel.”

Yahoo Finance - Sellers were asking more than $4,000 for the iPhone Duo’s base model; one eBay seller listed the 2TB model, priced by Apple at $3,199, for $15,000.

Yahoo Finance - iPhone revenue accounted for $209.58 billion of Apple’s $416.16 billion in total revenue in 2025; Services generated $109.15 billion.

Yahoo Finance - Apple revealed the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at its September event rather than debuting its full phone lineup.

MacRumors - New iPhone Duo preorders had shipping estimates pushed back to January 25 within the first 30 minutes after preorders opened.

MacRumors - Apple said it expected iPhone Duo supply to sell out quickly.

MacRumors - MacRumors bought an iPhone Duo at Apple Edinburgh; store staff said they had received more units than expected.

MacRumors - Apple limited iPhone Duo purchases in the U.S. to two per customer.

MacRumors - The iPhone Duo is available in Star White and Night Sky, with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage options.

CNET - The iPhone Duo sold out within minutes of Apple Stores opening.

Fast Company - Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, went on sale amid demand that Apple could not meet with available supply.

Fast Company - After preorders opened, estimated shipping times increased from days to weeks and then months.

Fast Company - Apple’s website listed January 22 as the earliest shipping date for all iPhone Duo models.

Fast Company - Apple said it was “working hard to get this revolutionary new product into customers’ hands as quickly as possible.”

Fast Company - Apple said select-country Apple Stores would have “limited iPhone Duo available for walk-in customers.”

Fast Company - Apple Stores in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Macao, Italy (select stores only), Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States were identified as having limited walk-in availability.

Fast Company - Apple said Apple Stores in China, France, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates would not have walk-in iPhone Duo units.

Fast Company - Customers could contact local Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile stores to ask about walk-in stock; carrier purchases could require a contract.

WHERE:

MacRumors - Apple’s online pickup reservation system was live again in Australia, China, Japan, and South Korea.

CNBC - Scalpers waited outside Apple’s flagship store in Sanlitun, a popular shopping area in Beijing.

ABC7 Los Angeles - Customers lined up around the block at the Pasadena Apple Store and waited outside Apple Stores at The Grove in Los Angeles and Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

NY Post - A video posted online showed a “massive queue” at Apple’s glass-cube Fifth Avenue store.

MacRumors - Apple Edinburgh had iPhone Duo units available for purchase.

CNET - Crowds camped outside stores ahead of the phone’s release.

Fast Company - Walk-in availability was described for Apple Stores in the listed countries and territories.

WHEN:

MacRumors - Apple Store pickup reservations briefly appeared for a few minutes after iPhone Duo preorders began, then disappeared.

NY Post - Customers were lined up at the Fifth Avenue store around 4:15 a.m.

CNET - Customers camped outside stores up to two days before the iPhone Duo became available.

Fast Company - Apple’s preorder period began on October 16.

Fast Company - Apple advised customers to check its online stores on October 24 for updated in-store pickup availability.

Fast Company - The article gave January 22 as the earliest shipping date shown on Apple’s website.

WHY:

CNBC - Alex Wang attributed the resale opportunity to tight iPhone Duo supply.

ABC7 Los Angeles - Some customers waited in person after being unable to preorder the iPhone Duo online.

Yahoo Finance - The iPhone Duo could raise Apple’s average iPhone selling price and boost its bottom line.

HOW:

MacRumors - MacRumors found few or no pickup time slots across configurations during a spot check of Apple’s online store.

Yahoo Finance - Apple was widely expected to unveil the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 early next year.

MacRumors - The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for 256GB; 512GB costs $2,199, 1TB costs $2,599, and 2TB costs $3,199.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 04:04 UTC)

Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, sold out within minutes at many stores, as demand outstripped supply. Preorder shipping estimates quickly stretched from days to months, with Apple’s website showing January 22 as the earliest delivery. Crowds lined up at stores, including in Los Angeles, New York and Beijing; some customers said they turned to in-person queues after failing to preorder online. The Duo unfolds into a mini-tablet, with a display designed to have virtually no crease, and starts at $1,999. In Beijing, scalpers offered buyers an extra 3,000 yuan for newly purchased phones, betting tight supply would support resale prices. Online listings for some models reached far above Apple’s prices. Apple said demand was “nothing short of extraordinary” and that it was working to get the phone to customers quickly. Walk-in stock was limited, and several markets had none.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 02:08 UTC)

Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, has drawn crowds and quickly outstripped available supply. Customers camped outside stores, with lines stretching around the block in Los Angeles and hundreds gathering at Apple’s Beijing flagship. Some said they turned up after being unable to preorder online, while one Beijing shopper called Apple a laggard and said many Chinese customers prefer foldable phones. The Duo opens into a mini-tablet, with a virtually crease-free display, and folds to fit in a pocket. Apple said demand was extraordinary and warned supply could sell out quickly; shipping estimates soon stretched into the coming months. The phone starts at $1,999, and online resellers were asking far more, including $15,000 for a model Apple priced at $3,199. China is the world’s largest foldable-phone market, though the category remains niche globally. Apple said limited walk-in stock would be available in select markets, while some stores had none.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 23:12 UTC)

Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, drew crowds as it went on sale, with demand outpacing available supply. Customers camped outside stores, and lines formed around the block in Pasadena and at locations in Los Angeles and Santa Monica; a crowd gathered at New York’s Fifth Avenue store before dawn. Some buyers said they had been unable to preorder online, while others described a friendly, communal atmosphere. The Duo opens into a mini-tablet with a virtually crease-free display, then folds to fit in a pocket. It starts at $1,999, and resale listings climbed above $4,000, with one 2TB model offered for $15,000. Preorder delivery estimates stretched from days to months, and Apple’s website showed January 22 as the earliest shipping date. Limited walk-in stock was available in select markets, while Apple advised customers to check online on October 24 for pickup updates.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 20:04 UTC)

Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, sold out within minutes at stores as demand outpaced available supply. Customers camped outside for as long as two days, and a massive queue formed at Apple’s Fifth Avenue store before dawn. Preorder delivery estimates quickly stretched from days to weeks and months; Apple’s website showed January 22 as the earliest shipping date. The company said demand was “nothing short of extraordinary” and that it was working to get phones to customers quickly. Limited walk-in stock was available at select Apple Stores, while customers could check with Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. In the U.S., purchases were limited to two per customer. The Duo starts at $1,999, and resellers were asking more than $4,000 for the base model, with one 2TB phone listed at $15,000. Apple may benefit from higher average iPhone prices.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 17:25 UTC)

Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, sold out within minutes of stores opening as demand outstripped available supply. Customers camped outside stores, and a video showed a large queue at Apple’s Fifth Avenue location before dawn. Preorder delivery estimates quickly stretched from days to weeks and months; within half an hour, some orders were expected to arrive January 25. Apple’s website showed January 22 as the earliest shipping date, while the company said demand was “nothing short of extraordinary” and that it was working to get phones to customers quickly. Select Apple Stores had limited walk-in stock, though availability varied by country, and customers could check with Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile. In Edinburgh, one store reportedly had more units than expected. U.S. purchases were limited to two per customer. The phone starts at $1,999, with prices rising to $3,199 for the 2-terabyte model.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 16:19 UTC)

Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, has sparked demand that outstripped available supply, with customers camping outside stores and units selling out within minutes of opening. Apple said demand was “nothing short of extraordinary” and warned that supply could sell out quickly. After preorders opened, estimated delivery times stretched from days to weeks and then months; Apple’s website showed January 22 as the earliest shipping date. The phone starts at $1,999 for 256 gigabytes, with 512-gigabyte, 1-terabyte, and 2-terabyte models priced at $2,199, $2,599, and $3,199. It comes in Star White and Night Sky, and U.S. purchases are limited to two per customer. Some Apple Stores have limited walk-in stock, while others will have none. Customers can also check with Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile, where purchases may require a contract. Apple advised checking online stores on October 24 for updated pickup availability.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 14:24 UTC)

Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, sold out within minutes of Apple Stores opening, as demand outpaced available supply. Some customers camped outside stores for up to two days, and Apple described demand as “nothing short of extraordinary.” Shipping estimates stretched from days to weeks and then months; Apple’s website showed January 22 as the earliest delivery date for every model. Apple said it was working to get the phone to customers as quickly as possible, with limited walk-in stock at stores in select countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Stores in China, France, India, Japan and several other markets would have no walk-in units. Customers could also check Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile stores, though carrier purchases might require a contract. Apple advised customers to check its online stores on October 24 for updated in-store pickup availability.