Apple says iPhone Duo shipping estimates stretch into January
iPhone Duo pre-orders surge as shipping estimates stretch into January
Pre-order demand for the iPhone Duo has been “nothing short of extraordinary,” Apple stated to the Financial Times, warning customers that initial supplies have sold out in minutes and deliveries are pushed back to next year. Released as Apple’s first folding device and the most dramatic redesign of its flagship product in nearly two decades, the iPhone Duo opened for pre-orders on Friday, with buyers facing delivery dates stretching into January if they delayed their purchases by even half an hour.
The company acknowledged that demand outpaced supply over the weekend, stating it is “working hard to get this revolutionary new product into customers’ hands as quickly as possible.”
Retail stores brace for launch day amid strict stock warnings
At the same time, MacRumors reported that retail staff have been instructed to discourage customers from visiting physical Apple Stores to buy the iPhone Duo on launch day, as walk-in stock for non-pre-ordered devices will likely be unavailable.
While early iPhone releases historically drew overnight queues outside retail locations, Apple has steered buyers toward online pre-orders even for in-store pickups. Current shipping estimates on Apple’s website for both the UK and US show arrivals delayed until late January, though historical delivery patterns indicate some units may arrive ahead of schedule.
Complex manufacturing bottlenecks shroud total sales figures
Apple has not disclosed how many iPhone Duo units were manufactured prior to the launch or the exact volume sold during the pre-order window. Prior to the release, industry reports frequently cited potential supply constraints driven by the complex engineering and manufacturing demands of a folding form factor.
Standard flagship models maintain steady availability
By contrast, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max—announced alongside the folding device at the September event—did not encounter similar bottlenecks. Those standard flagship models went on sale shortly after their announcement and remain widely available for immediate purchase.