Apple's first foldable iPhone Duo sells out as pre-orders slip to 2027

Oct 17, 10:52 AM2 min readCovered by 4 outlets

Drafted by AI from the sources below, fact-checked by the Ajako Taja Editorial Team · How we use AI

AI Summary

Apple's new $1,999 foldable iPhone Duo is already facing major backorders, with shipping dates slipping into 2027 just hours after pre-orders opened on Friday.

Apple opened pre-orders for its $1,999 iPhone Duo on Friday, with high demand immediately pushing shipping dates for the company's first foldable device into 2027.

Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo began at 8 a.m. ET on Friday, and delivery estimates for the new device quickly slipped past the October 23 launch date. CBS News reported that by Friday afternoon, the phone was backordered until late January, while International reported that some delivery timelines had already extended into 2027. Apple described the initial demand as "nothing short of extraordinary" in a statement, noting they are working to fulfill orders as quickly as possible.

The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for 256 GB of storage and can exceed $3,000 for the 2 TB model. According to CBS News, the device is roughly the size of a passport when folded and features a display that more closely resembles an iPad than a traditional phone. New CEO John Ternus previously announced the hardware allows users to split the screen to run two different apps or separate windows of the same site simultaneously.

Market analysts noted that the early rush suggests strong interest in Apple's entry into a category currently led by Samsung and Google. Dan Ives of Yorkville Ives told CBS News he expects Apple to sell roughly 10 million units in the coming quarters. While foldable technology has existed for years, IDC analyst Nabila Popal told CNBC that the Duo's appeal stems from Apple bringing the form factor to its existing ecosystem of users.

Industry observers were surprised by the entry price. Anshel Sag, an analyst at Moor Insights, told CNBC that many expected the foldable to start at a significantly higher price point of $2,400 or $2,500. While foldables represent a small fraction of total global smartphone units, IDC data cited by International suggests they account for a disproportionately high share of industry revenue.

Background

Apple CEO John Ternus announced the iPhone Duo and the iPhone 18 during the company's annual fall showcase last month. Although the Duo is Apple's first foldable phone, the company has been exploring the design for over a decade, having filed patents for foldable electronics as early as 2011.