Quick answer: Apple opened preorders for the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, on Friday, 16 October 2026, and online delivery estimates slipped to late January 2027 in less than an hour. The phone starts at $1,999 (256GB) and goes up to $3,199 for 2TB. It has a 7.6-inch folding inner screen, a 5.4-inch outer screen, the A20 Pro chip and two 48MP rear cameras. It goes on sale in stores on Friday, 23 October. Apple calls demand “nothing short of extraordinary” but has not said how many units stores will have on launch day.
Apple’s first foldable was always going to draw attention, but online orders stretching past the holidays on day one turned it into one of the most talked-about tech stories of the weekend. Here is what the iPhone Duo actually offers, what it costs, and what we know about getting one sooner.
How fast did iPhone Duo preorders sell out?
Very fast. The Verge reported that delivery estimates for the Duo slipped into 2027 less than an hour after preorders opened, with late January dates showing for every configuration on Apple’s website.
Later that day, Apple responded with a statement quoted by Bloomberg and The Verge:
“The pre-order demand for iPhone Duo, our first foldable iPhone, has been nothing short of extraordinary. We are working hard to get this revolutionary new product into customers’ hands as quickly as possible, and we will continue accepting orders online.”
Apple has not said whether the delay comes from strong demand, limited supply or both, and it has not shared any sales figures. Orders are still open, but anyone ordering online now should expect a long wait.
Can you get an iPhone Duo sooner in a store?
Possibly, but nothing is guaranteed. The iPhone Duo goes on sale in stores on 23 October, and The Verge notes that Apple typically keeps some units for in-store availability. Apple says its teams “look forward to welcoming customers at Apple Stores worldwide” but has not said whether there will be stock for people who missed out on preorders. If you want one quickly, checking your local Apple Store on launch day is the best bet.
iPhone Duo price and storage options
According to Apple’s announcement and its online store, US pricing is:
- 256GB: $1,999 (or $83.29 a month for 24 months)
- 512GB: $2,199
- 1TB: $2,599
- 2TB: $3,199
It comes in two colours, star white and night sky. Preorders opened in more than 70 countries and regions, including the US, UK, Canada, Brazil, India, Japan and Germany.
iPhone Duo specs: what Apple’s foldable offers
The Duo folds like a book, and when closed it is roughly the size of a passport, the same shorter, wider style that Samsung introduced earlier this year, according to The Verge. The key numbers from Apple’s technical specifications:
- Inner display: 7.6-inch folding OLED, 1878 x 2670 pixels, with a nano-texture finish that Apple says reduces glare and makes the crease less visible. Apple says it is 50 percent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max screen.
- Outer display: 5.4 inches, with 90 percent of the screen area of the iPhone 18 Pro.
- Thickness and weight: 5.2 mm open and 11.3 mm closed, at 254 grams. Apple says it is the thinnest iPhone ever when open.
- Chip: A20 Pro, with a vapor chamber for cooling and a dual-battery design.
- Battery life: up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner display and up to 44 hours on the outer display, per Apple.
- Cameras: 48MP Fusion Main and 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide on the back, a 12MP Center Stage front camera and a FaceTime camera hidden under the inner display. There is no dedicated telephoto lens; the main camera offers an “optical-quality” 2x crop.
- Security: Touch ID built into the side button, so it works the same way whether the phone is open or closed.
- Durability: grade 5 titanium frame, a hinge made of more than 100 components, Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and an IP68 water and dust rating.
Apple also says the Duo will support Apple Pencil with USB-C later this year.
What’s different in the software
The Duo runs iOS 27, which Apple has adapted for the folding screen. For the first time on an iPhone, Split View lets you run two apps side by side. The Dock, Lock Screen controls and the Dynamic Island move to the side of the screen to free up vertical space. Apps switch screens as you fold or flip the phone, and Netflix, Zoom and Slack already have versions designed for the larger display.
There are also camera tricks that only work with two screens. Duo Preview shows people you are photographing a live preview on the outer screen, so you can take a selfie with the better rear cameras, and Kid Cue plays Peanuts animations on the outer screen to get children to look at the camera. The phone also ships with Siri AI, Apple’s new version of Siri, which is rolling out in beta with iOS 27.
Why this launch matters for Apple
Rivals such as Samsung have sold foldable phones for years. The Duo is Apple’s first. Apple chief executive John Ternus called the Duo “the most transformational change to iPhone since the original” in the company’s announcement.
The early delays show that interest is high, even at a price well above any previous iPhone. What is still unknown is how many people will actually get one this year, how the folding screen holds up in daily use, and whether developers beyond Apple’s launch partners will adapt their apps for the new shape. Independent long-term durability tests have not been published yet.
Apple has been busy beyond the iPhone, too: read about Apple and Meta’s deal to run Muse Spark locally on the Mac Studio. For another tech launch where demand ran ahead of delivery, see how Tesla’s new Roadster wowed the internet but won’t arrive until 2028. And if you follow the AI side of tech, here is why Character.ai filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. More stories are in our Tech section.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the iPhone Duo cost?
In the US, the iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for 256GB. The 512GB model costs $2,199, 1TB costs $2,599 and 2TB costs $3,199.
When is the iPhone Duo release date?
Preorders opened on 16 October 2026, and the phone goes on sale in stores on 23 October 2026. Online orders placed since launch day show delivery estimates in late January 2027.
Why is the iPhone Duo delayed to 2027?
Apple says preorder demand has been “nothing short of extraordinary.” It has not said whether supply is also limited, and it has not released sales figures.
How big are the iPhone Duo screens?
The inner folding display is 7.6 inches and the outer display is 5.4 inches. Both share the same aspect ratio, so apps scale proportionally when you open or close the phone.
Does the iPhone Duo have Face ID?
Apple’s announcement describes Touch ID built into the side button for unlocking, whether the phone is open or closed. You can also unlock it with an Apple Watch.
Sources: Apple Newsroom; Apple, iPhone Duo technical specifications; The Verge, preorder delays; The Verge, Apple’s statement.
Featured image: Apple Store Fifth Avenue, New York, by Jorge Láscar, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
