Apple's foldable iPhone Duo sells out in minutes, deliveries pushed to January

Demand for Apple's first foldable iPhone has outstripped supply. According to Polish business media, the iPhone Duo sold out in pre-orders within minutes, and shipping dates slipped to January.

Price and first days of sales

The Duo starts at $1,999, making it the most expensive phone in Apple's range. The new Apple chief executive, John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook in September 2026, presented it. Folded, it resembles a wide smartphone; unfolded, a small tablet. The unfolded screen has an area 80 per cent larger than the display of the iPhone 18 Pro.

The daily Rzeczpospolita writes that deliveries may take until as late as January 2027. It points to production problems: a significant share of devices reportedly fail quality control. The Spider's Web site cites a newsletter by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, according to which Apple pushed deliveries to January because of empty warehouses. Apple had initially planned to limit the launch to the United States and China, then changed its distribution plans. TVN24 reports that on 30 October 2026 the device was due to reach another 28 markets.

Display fault

Apple said it is aware of an issue affecting the inner display of a small number of Duo units. It advises owners of faulty devices to contact the company about a replacement. Apple has not disclosed the scale of the problem.

Market reaction

According to Rzeczpospolita, Apple's market capitalisation exceeded $5tn for the first time, with shares reaching a record price of $342.79. The start of Duo pre-orders is said to have driven the rise. The Antyweb site notes that before launch, analysts at Omdia and Counterpoint forecast shipments of more than 6 million units by the end of 2026. These are only forecasts, and their delivery was said to depend on how quickly production could be scaled up.

The sources we used do not say when Apple will be able to deliver further batches, or what delivery dates apply in the UK.

What this means for you

Anyone wanting to buy the Duo should expect a long wait. Availability and prices in the UK are worth checking on Apple's website or with mobile networks, as the sources we used contain no such data.