Apple has said demand for its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, has been “nothing short of extraordinary” after pre-orders sold out almost immediately, leaving some customers facing delivery delays until January 2027.
The device opened for pre-orders on Friday, October 16, with customers who placed orders even 30 minutes later reportedly being given delivery dates in January.
In a statement to the Financial Times, Apple said it was working to increase production and deliver the devices as quickly as possible.
“The pre-order demand for iPhone Duo, our first foldable iPhone, has been nothing short of extraordinary,” the company said.
“We are working hard to get this revolutionary new product into customers’ hands as quickly as possible.”
Apple stores may have limited launch-day stock
Apple customers hoping to purchase the iPhone Duo in person may also face difficulties securing a device on launch day.
According to MacRumors, Apple retail staff have been advised to discourage customers from visiting stores in the hope of buying the foldable phone without a pre-order, as walk-in stock is expected to be limited or unavailable.
Apple has traditionally seen long queues outside its stores during major iPhone launches, with some customers arriving overnight to secure new devices.
In recent years, however, the company has encouraged customers to place orders online, including those planning to collect their devices from physical stores.
Foldable design may be limiting supply
The iPhone Duo represents Apple’s first entry into the foldable smartphone market and one of the most significant redesigns of its flagship product since the original iPhone launched in 2007.
Reports ahead of the launch had warned that supplies could be constrained because of the device’s complex design and manufacturing requirements.
Apple has not disclosed how many units it produced ahead of the launch or how many pre-orders it has received.
The company’s UK and US websites were listing delivery estimates extending into late January at the time of The Independent report. However, Apple has sometimes provided conservative delivery estimates, meaning some customers could receive their devices earlier.
iPhone 18 Pro models remain available
The supply situation appears different for Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which were announced alongside the foldable device in September.
Both models remain available for immediate purchase, according to the report, suggesting that the production constraints affecting the iPhone Duo may be specific to the new foldable design.
Apple has not announced a revised delivery schedule for the iPhone Duo beyond the estimates shown to customers.
