iPhone Duo sells out in minutes – resellers are asking up to $5000
Preorders for the first foldable iPhone Duo opened on October 16, but the first batch had sold out within half an hour. Buyers in the US are now being told to wait until January 2027 for delivery. Amid the shortage, resellers have become more active, listing the phones on eBay for up to $5200.
iPhone Duo sells out in minutes
Apple opened preorders in the US on October 16 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time. At first, buyers were promised delivery by the official sales launch on October 23. But within minutes, delivery estimates began slipping to November, and half an hour later, all iPhone Duo versions were available to order with delivery no earlier than January 25, 2027. Some buyers saw an even later date: January 29.
The situation is the same for both colors, Star White and Night Sky, and all four storage configurations, from 256 GB to 2 TB. Apple is still accepting orders, but new buyers are not being promised delivery from its US online store before the end of the year.
Apple attributed the delays to exceptionally high demand and said it was trying to speed up deliveries. The company did not disclose how many phones it had prepared for launch or how many preorders it had received.
It is therefore too early to talk about record sales. The lengthy wait may be due not only to buyer interest but also to low production volumes. Nikkei Asia previously reported that Apple was having trouble ramping up production of the foldable iPhone.
Resellers are selling iPhone Duo for $5000
While some buyers are trying to place an order, others are already profiting from the shortage. Dozens of iPhone Duo resale listings have appeared on eBay. These are not phones in hand, but confirmed preorders, as official shipments have yet to begin.
MacRumors found a listing for a 2 TB iPhone Duo in Night Sky for $4999,99. Apple charges $3199 for this configuration. That puts the markup at $1800.
The 1 TB version is in a similar situation. It was listed for $4400, compared with an official price of $2599. Both listings were marked “sold,” although the exact transaction amounts are unknown: eBay lets buyers offer sellers their own price.
Even higher asking prices can be found, reaching $5200. But an asking price does not mean anyone is willing to pay that much.
How much does iPhone Duo cost?
In the US, Apple’s foldable phone is available in four configurations. Prices in Europe are significantly higher. For example, the base model costs €2299 in Europe, while the most expensive one costs €3799.
| Storage | US | Europe |
|---|---|---|
| 256 GB | $1999 | €2299 |
| 512 GB | $2199 | €2549 |
| 1 TB | $2599 | €3049 |
| 2 TB | $3199 | €3799 |
Repairs will cost almost as much as a new iPhone
The high purchase price is not the only expense. Apple has also revealed US repair prices for the iPhone Duo without AppleCare+ coverage.
The most expensive repairs are for damage Apple classifies as “other.” Such repairs can cost up to $1499. Replacing the internal foldable display costs $999, the external display $379, and the rear glass $199.
The most affordable repair is replacing the protective layer on the internal display. It can be replaced separately for $49. Battery service and a main camera replacement cost $229, while repairing the external display and rear glass at the same time costs $509.
With AppleCare+, repair costs are lower: replacing the internal display costs $99, the external display $29, and the protective layer $19. In the US, AppleCare+ costs $19,99 per month, $199,99 per year, or $399 as a one-time payment.
Official iPhone Duo sales begin on October 23. Although online orders have already been pushed back to next year, some devices may be available at Apple Store retail locations on launch day. It is not yet known how many phones will be available for walk-in purchase.
