It took less than 30 minutes for the iPhone Duo pre-orders to turn into a disappointing experience for many potential buyers, who were met with waiting times extending to the end of January. While Apple suggested this was the result of “extraordinary” demand, a new report suggests it might also be because of a baffling decision by the company.
Most of the initial iPhone Duo stock was reportedly allocated to Apple Stores
The vast majority of the initial iPhone Duo stock was sent out to Apple Stores instead of being reserved for online pre-orders. In the latest episode of his “Power On” podcast, Apple insider Mark Gurman says that as much as 80% of the available stock was allocated to physical stores.
Citing sources said to be close to the logistics plans at Apple, Gurman said that most of the people who managed to get an iPhone Duo on launch day did it the old-school way by waiting in line. While Apple doesn’t disclose any figures about the number of manufactured phones or their distribution across retail channels, this claim explains why pre-orders slipped so quickly.
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The iPhone Duo supply was still very low
Getting an iPhone Duo is still complicated. | Image by PhoneArena
Even in this report, there isn’t any actual figure showing how many iPhone Duo units were manufactured and available at launch. The report focuses on the proportion between online pre-orders and in-store stocks, but the real issue is most likely the low supply.
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According to Gurman, some stores had as little as 50 units available, and even the flagship locations held around 250 units. The only exclusion was probably the Fifth Avenue Apple Store, which had more units because there were Apple executives present for the launch.
Just for context, Apple Stores get hundreds and even thousands of units for models like the iPhone 18 Pro, so even 250 units for the foldable is an unusually limited number.
Considering reactions on social media, Apple’s policy hasn’t changed all that much since launch day. Some users on Reddit reported that they’ve managed to get an iPhone Duo from an Apple Store, allowing them to cancel their pre-orders.
Pre-orders don't seem all that nice anymore. | Image by Reddit (screenshot
The bumpiest iPhone premiere in recent memory
Apple faced an unusual amount of issues with the iPhone Duo. | Image by PhoneArena
If the pre-orders chaos was not enough, the iPhone Duo got into even more trouble only a few hours after its official launch when some units started showing disturbing durability issues leading to cracked internal displays. In just a week, the issue turned out to be more common than it feels comfortable, giving the “Crackgate” moniker.
However, regardless of the missteps, it appears that Apple is about to turn into one of the leading brands on the foldable smartphone market. According to research firm TrendForce, the company will ship 5 million iPhone Duo units by the end of the year, giving it about 25% global market share in 2026.
Samsung is still projected to remain the market leader not only in 2026, but also in 2027. The reason for this is very clear. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a major hit for the company, and while it has its own production challenges to tackle, you can easily buy it right now, without worrying its display may crack on the way home.
This is unlikely to affect the iPhone Duo sales all that much
As frustrating as it may have been for anyone who wanted to pre-order it, I don’t think Apple’s move had the biggest impact on the iPhone Duo sales. It appears that units are sold as soon as they reach any retail channel, so the issue is more related to the supply than the specifics of the distribution. This is bad news for people who can’t get the foldable, but it’ll probably mean excellent news for Apple’s finances.
Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
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