iPhone Duo goes on sale, with queues at Apple Stores and a launch shortage
On October 23, Apple began selling the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone. Strong demand and limited supplies have marked the launch: long queues have once again formed outside Apple Stores in various countries, while delivery times for new online orders have already slipped to early 2027.
Queues return to Apple Stores
The iPhone Duo went on sale in more than 70 countries and regions. Australia was among the first markets, with customers gathering outside the Apple Store in Sydney before it opened. Queues also formed in Singapore, Shanghai, London, Berlin and cities across the US.
Some customers spent the night wrapped in blankets outside Apple Fifth Avenue in New York. Similar scenes were reported at other stores. For example, around 30-40 people were outside the Apple Store in Las Vegas as early as 4:15 a.m., and the queue later grew to more than 150 customers.
Still, it would be an exaggeration to say that every store had queues stretching for miles. Crowds varied considerably by city, and many customers were there to collect orders they had already placed.
Almost no iPhone Duo units available
The shortage began before retail sales started. Preorders opened on October 16, and within minutes, estimated delivery dates for some configurations had shifted from October 23 to January 2027. Apple described initial demand as extremely high.
Ahead of the launch, the company warned that only a limited number of phones would be available to customers without a preorder. Unreserved units were available at stores in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Mexico and several European countries, though some locations quickly sold out of their stock.
In China, France, India, Japan, South Korea and several other countries, it was not possible to buy an iPhone Duo without a reservation on launch day. On October 24, Apple reopened reservations for in-store pickup in the US, but there are now virtually no configurations available.
Apple personalizes the first startup
For iPhone Duo buyers at Apple Stores in the US, the company prepared an unusual touch. Before handing over the phone, store employees can add the owner’s name to its startup screen.
As a result, the phone displays a personal greeting, such as “Hello Aaron,” instead of the usual “Hello” when it is turned on for the first time.
Apple overtakes NVIDIA in market capitalization
As the iPhone Duo launched, Apple shares hit a new intraday record on October 23, rising to around $351,73. At that point, the iPhone maker’s market capitalization reached roughly $5,1-5.12 trillion, briefly overtaking NVIDIA to become the world’s most valuable publicly traded company.
However, Apple held the lead only during the trading session. By the close, its shares had fallen to $347,73, putting its market capitalization at about $5,07-5.08 trillion. NVIDIA ended the day valued at around $5,09 trillion and reclaimed the top spot.
Price and availability
In the US, the iPhone Duo starts at $1999 for the 256 GB model. Versions with 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB of storage are also available. The top configuration is priced at $3199.
The first wave of sales covers more than 70 countries and regions. The iPhone Duo will launch in another 28 countries on October 30. For now, the main constraint is not where the phone is sold, but its availability: in many cases, new orders will take several months to arrive.
