iPhone Duo: Presale Sold Out, Delivery Delayed to January
The iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable iPhone, went on presale on Friday at 8:00 AM Eastern Time (5:00 AM Pacific). Within minutes, however, estimated delivery dates began to slip, and the presale was virtually sold out. New orders are now pushed back to next year.
iPhone Duo Presale: All Configurations Delayed
According to 9to5mac and Macworld, by 8:30 AM Eastern Time, all configurations offered in the Apple Store were backordered with an estimated shipping date of January 25. Some users even saw January 29, according to 9to5mac. Mashable reported a shift to early December at the same time, so the figures vary.
The first pre-orders are scheduled to arrive on October 23, but only for those who managed to order in time. Apple introduced the phone on September 9 at the Surprise and Shine event, Macworld notes. The base price of the iPhone Duo is $1,999, as CNET and Macworld agree.
Price, Display, and Specs
According to Macworld, the price depends on storage: 256 GB for $1,999, 512 GB for $2,199, 1 TB for $2,599, and 2 TB for $3,199. The phone is sold in two colors, Night Sky and Star White.
CNET reports that when unfolded, the display measures 7.6 inches, while the outer screen measures 5.4 inches. The Duo features two 48-megapixel cameras, supports Apple Pencil, and offers drag-and-drop features similar to the iPad.
Why the iPhone Duo Is Sold Out
According to a Nikkei Asia report cited by 9to5mac, Apple was producing only a few hundred units a day, significantly fewer than usual for a standard iPhone. Dozens of reseller listings appeared on eBay with prices as high as $5,200, according to 9to5mac. Macworld reports that the 1TB model sold there for $3,777.77.
Carriers and Retail Stores
Macworld: at 8:50 AM Eastern Time, T-Mobile showed delivery for late October, while AT&T; and Verizon showed November. Apple Stores are expected to have only limited stock daily, and the Apple website posted a notice asking customers to check availability on October 24. In the UK, delivery for the white 256 GB model was pushed back to December 14-21.
Customers Report Having Minutes to Decide
Abrar Al Heeti, a tech editor for CNET, wrote about the phone: "It has a pleasant feel to the touch, and the crease on the screen almost disappears when the display is on."
Timothy Beck Werth, a tech editor for Mashable, described: "I was refreshing the Apple Store page right at 8:00 AM Eastern Time to start my order, but that window was gone before I could even process it."
A 9to5mac commenter with the handle RedSailboat stated that he launched the Apple Store app right at 8:00 AM, but the store didn't switch over until 30 seconds later. He was ultimately able to complete his order.