Apple's iPhone Duo Preorders Face Delivery Delays Until January 2027

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Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, faces supply challenges with preorder delivery estimates pushed back to January 2027 shortly after sales began.

Apple has encountered significant supply challenges with its newly launched iPhone Duo, the company’s first foldable smartphone. Mere minutes after preorders opened at 8 a.m. in New York on October 16, 2026, estimated delivery dates for all color options and storage capacities—from 256 GB up to 2 TB—were pushed back to late January 2027. This rapid shift suggests a serious shortage in availability. Users on social platforms like Reddit and X reported delays despite following Apple’s advice to preorder preferred configurations early. Bloomberg further noted that retailers quickly exhausted their initial pre-sale stock, indicating demand outstripping supply. It remains unclear whether the delays stem from unexpectedly high consumer demand, limited production volumes, or a combination of both. Apple is known to reserve some inventory for walk-in customers on launch day (October 23, 2026), potentially giving late buyers a chance to purchase the device earlier. Priced from $1,999 for the base 256 GB model, the iPhone Duo is Apple's most expensive iPhone to date and a notable entry into the relatively niche foldable smartphone segment dominated by established rivals. Analyst Ivan Lam from Counterpoint Research had projected sales of about 6 million units in 2026, contingent on Apple’s ability to scale up production. This device also marks the first major product release under Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, symbolizing the company’s strategic push into foldable technology within the premium smartphone market.