Even before the foldable iPhone was announced, this was one of the most anticipated smartphones of the year, overshadowing even the iPhone 18 Pro. After months of murmurs about major production issues and delays, the phone is set to finally launch later this month, but this is unlikely to be the smooth premiere the foldable may deserve.
iPhone Duo could be hard to buy
Apple is most likely going to face multiple hurdles with the sales of its first foldable iPhone. According to Apple insider Mark Gurman, the company will need to deal with very limited inventory once the iPhone Duo premieres.
In the latest edition of his newsletter Power On, Gurman says that anyone who wants to get their hands on the foldable phone should “plan ahead.” There’s a high probability that the production of the iPhone Duo won’t be able to meet the expected demand, which are almost certainly going to lead to shipments delays shortly after pre-orders open.
When do you plan to buy an iPhone Duo?
17 Votes
The foldable iPhone is launching earlier than even Apple expected
The iPhone Duo pre-orders will open Friday. | Image by Apple
These difficulties are nothing new for Apple. Only two months ago, the company has reportedly projected to be able to launch the iPhone Duo later in November. However, the it appears that the company has managed to reach enough inventory to have a somehow limited release in October.
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We’ve been hearing of the various production issues with the foldable iPhone, which have been piling on each other over the last months. Earlier reports suggested that there wasn’t one particular area where production stalls, but multiple challenges that stack up.
According the the most recent reports, final assembly yields for the device were just over 60% in the middle of September, and it could take up to a year for production to reach a mature yield. Part of the reason appear to be Apple’s quality requirements, which some suppliers were waiting to be relaxed so production could be accelerated.
Users on Reddit are fairly split on whether the iPhone Duo is even worth the wait. While many people say they have been waiting for a foldable phone from Apple, others are not sure that there’s more to it than the novelty.
Some redditors decided against buying an iPhone Duo. | Image by Reddit (screenshot
It’s a limited release already
Even after solving some of its production issues, Apple had to limit the release of the iPhone Duo. The company is launching the foldable in “more than 70 countries” on October 23, and another 28 markets on October 30.
Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo in the US start this Friday, October 16, and you can already prepare your pre-order. Apple allows anyone who plans to get the phone to select the color, storage, carrier options, AppleCare+ plans, and trade-in of their Duo, and have it ready for when pre-orders open.
This will allow customers to place their pre-order with just a clock of a button, instead of going through the lengthy process while in a rush. Considering the limited inventory, this could turn out to be crucial for anyone who wants to get an iPhone Duo as early as possible.
Samsung didn’t put such an emphasis on the pre-orders of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 when they launched in August. Despite its own production challenges, the Korean company has enough experience in manufacturing foldable phones to not face the same issues its main competitor has.
Surely the iPhone Duo will be an early hit
Apple is surely going to enjoy bombastic initial sales for the iPhone Duo, but this doesn’t mean the foldable will dominate the market long term. I don’t think this will be a failure for the company, but I’m very curious how things will go once the initial excitement wears off.
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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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