Apple’s inaugural foray into the foldable smartphone arena, the iPhone Duo, commenced pre-orders on October 16.
Within moments, delivery windows for U.S. customers evaporated, slipping from November to as late as January of the following year for all color and storage variants.
In response, Apple characterized the pre-order demand as “stunningly strong” and confirmed it is operating at maximum capacity to expedite deliveries.
In an official communication, Apple stated: “Pre-order demand for the iPhone Duo—our first foldable iPhone—has been stunningly strong.
We’re diligently working to deliver these innovative devices to our customers as swiftly as possible while continuing to accept online orders.”
Nevertheless, Apple refrained from specifying whether retail locations would possess inventory on October 23, the official launch date, for patrons who did not manage to secure pre-orders.
Market data revealed that after pre-orders commenced at 8 a.m. Eastern Time, customers who placed orders promptly could still retrieve their devices on October 23.
However, by approximately 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time on October 16 (8:30 a.m. EDT), the U.S. Apple online store had adjusted delivery timings for all variants to January 25 of the next year.
A similar scenario played out in South Korea, where the local Apple online store also extended delivery times to January 22, 2027.
Concurrent Launch in Taiwan and Japan; Pickup Dates Adjusted
Taiwan and Japan are among the primary markets for this launch. Apple’s website for Taiwan indicated that pre-orders for the iPhone Duo began at 8 p.m. on October 16, with official sales initiating on October 23.
The pricing for the 256GB model stands at NT$74,900 (approximately $2,300), the 512GB at NT$81,900 (approximately $2,500), the 1TB model at NT$96,900 (approximately $3,000), and the 2TB version at NT$118,900 (approximately $3,700), with a limit of two units per customer.
Exchange programs for eligible older devices can yield a discount ranging from NT$1,200 (approximately $37) to NT$36,200 (approximately $1,100). Notably, the iPhone Duo does not accommodate physical SIM cards and mandates activation via eSIM.
In Japan, pre-orders began at 9 p.m. Japan time on October 16 (8 a.m. EDT on October 16), with sales set to commence on October 23.
The entry price for the 256GB model is ¥364,800 (approximately $2,300) inclusive of tax. Approximately an hour post-launch, Apple’s Japan website indicated that pickup dates for all available colors and storage options were uniformly delayed to January 22, 2027.
Carrier partners NTT docomo, au, SoftBank, and Rakuten Mobile similarly began pre-orders concurrently.
Anticipated Supply Constraints
The limited supply of the iPhone Duo had not gone unnoticed. Preceding the launch, industry analyses suggested the device’s intricate manufacturing processes could hinder initial supply.
Apple had devoted considerable engineering efforts to the hinge design of the foldable display, culminating in a mechanism comprising over 100 precision micro-components, complemented by a bespoke polymer surface to mitigate common issues of screen creasing and fragility observed in earlier foldable iterations.
Apple CEO John Ternus, in statements made prior to the product launch, remarked on the perceived cheapness of competing devices from the 2010s, admitting he co-filed a patent for a foldable device alongside five engineers as early as 2011.
He pointed out that although clamshell phones were widespread then, the trajectory for flexible OLED display technology was already distinct.
Richard Dinh, Apple’s Vice President of Product Design, disclosed that the design team had once contemplated utilizing materials akin to those employed by competitors, yet Ternus insisted on awaiting more mature solutions, resulting in the current design.
Early reviews from tech pundits assert that the crease on the iPhone Duo’s unfolded display is nearly imperceptible.
Analysts Revise Sales Projections
Bloomberg Intelligence analysts Anurag Rana and Josh Christensen, in a report published on the inaugural day of pre-orders, opined that the sales and revenue from the iPhone Duo in Apple’s fiscal year 2027 could surpass their initial forecasts of 14 million units and $28 billion.
They further posited that if Apple can entice current Pro and Pro Max users to transition to this entry-level foldable model, the overall average selling price for iPhones could surge by 82% for Pro users and 67% for Pro Max users.
Dan Ives, a seasoned analyst with Wedbush Securities, expressed even greater optimism. His analysis suggests that iPhone Duo sales could reach approximately 10 million units in the upcoming quarters, with a possible trajectory to 25 million units in 2027.
He believes that once the upgrade cycle among current iPhone users gains momentum, foldable phones may evolve into a pivotal segment for Apple.
Forecasts from market research firm TrendForce, issued in September, indicated that iPhone Duo shipments in 2026 are projected to be around 5 million units, claiming approximately 24.8% of the global foldable smartphone market, thus positioning Apple as a strong contender alongside Samsung.
Total shipments of foldable devices in the same timeframe are estimated to reach about 20.2 million units, reflecting only a meager 0.5% annual growth.
Excluding Apple’s figures, Android manufacturers collectively are anticipated to ship around 15.2 million units, representing a year-over-year decline exceeding 20%.
Notably, long-standing Apple analyst Neil Cybart underscored the management dynamics post-Ternus’s ascent to CEO, observing his consistent engagement with the industrial design and interface teams.
This alignment with Apple’s design-centric ethos is crucial, as the inaugural response to the iPhone Duo’s market entry could significantly influence his leadership trajectory.
Pricing Paradigm and Market Comparisons
The iPhone Duo debuts at a starting price of $1,999, with the high-end 2TB variant setting a record at $3,200—an unprecedented milestone for iPhone pricing.
This device features a 5.4-inch outer display and unfolds to unveil a 7.6-inch inner screen, establishing the largest display area ever presented on an iPhone, ultimately bridging the user experience closer to that of an iPad.
On the first day of pre-orders, Apple’s shares closed with a modest gain of 0.4%, finishing at $343.46 after reaching an intraday high of $347.82.
In stark contrast to the pre-order rollout of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in September, where immediate orders could be largely fulfilled without difficulty, the challenge of securing an iPhone Duo appears significantly greater.
A recent report from the market analysis firm Counterpoint Research highlighted that the iPhone 18 Pro series is surpassing its predecessor’s performance in both China and India.
Intriguingly, the iPhone Duo has emerged on resale platforms such as eBay, with some sellers demanding as much as $5,000—two and a half times the initial asking price.
However, neither the total pre-order figures nor Apple’s inventory levels have been made public, complicating the assessment of whether the delivery delays stem from robust demand or supply constraints.
Samsung, which introduced its first foldable smartphone in 2019, continues to experience consistent demand for its latest Galaxy Z Fold8, even as overall growth in the foldable phone sector has plateaued.
Notably, Samsung is reported to be a principal supplier of the foldable display utilized in the iPhone Duo.
Apple executives emphasized in recent interviews that the panel was custom-developed per Apple’s rigorous specifications and is not a standard component.
Although Apple’s market entry may be seven years behind, the enthusiastic response on the first day of pre-orders indicates that consumer appetite for premium foldable devices remains remarkably robust.
The comparative specifications and pricing for the two leading foldable devices are summarized below:
| Feature | iPhone Duo | Galaxy Z Fold8 |
|---|---|---|
| Inner Display | 7.58 inches | 7.6 inches |
| Outer Display | 5.36 inches | 5.5 inches |
| Weight | 254 grams | 201 grams |
| Water/Dust Resistance | IP68 | IP48 |
| Processor | A20 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Taiwan Pricing (Starting) | NT$74,900 (256GB) (≈ $2,300) | NT$59,900 (256GB) (≈ $1,800) |
Note: Prices listed are for the 256GB model in the Taiwan market and include taxes; specifications are based on official statements from each manufacturer.
Since ascending to the CEO position on September 1, Ternus has already introduced several products, including the HomeView smart home hub and AirPods 5.
Industry insights suggest that Apple is slated to launch a MacBook Pro featuring a touchscreen and additional innovations later this month, hinting at vigorous momentum in product updates under the newly appointed leadership team.
Source link: Finance.biggo.com.
