Well, that went fast. It’s now been five hours since the iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable phone, went up for pre-order, and shipping estimates for each storage configuration in both colors – Star White and Night Sky – have slipped to January 2027. That’s well past the holiday season and the new year.
It didn’t even take four hours for things to get this bad. Within about 25 minutes of the opening of pre-orders, shipping estimates were already arriving at the end of December 2026 or slipping into early 2027. Many took to social media to report worsening delivery times, along with issues using both Apple Store apps, which were sometimes unresponsive or didn’t remember the “get ready” information customers entered before pre-ordering.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen demand shipping estimates this far back, and it reminds me of the iPhone X – the first iPhone with Face ID – or even the unicorn Jet Black iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. In the latter case, however, the supply crunch was limited to a single color. Either way, the early rush suggests serious interest in Apple’s first foldable iPhone, even before most people had a chance to try one.
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It is likely a combination of high demand and limited supply, rather than either factor alone. And with shipping estimates already sliding into 2027, I would expect Apple to increase production if its manufacturing partners can accommodate it. The big question is how quickly it can get more units out the door to meet demand.
Right now, if you want an iPhone Duo, you’re looking at waiting until 2027. And it’s not just Apple’s folding phone: the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max show delivery estimates ranging from late October to mid-November, depending on the configuration. That means anyone hoping to get their hands on one of Apple’s newest iPhones right away – or even in the next few days – is out of luck. The initial preorder rush has already pushed the delivery window weeks or, in the duo’s case, months out.
My dad had a mostly smooth pre-order experience, securing an iPhone Duo 256GB at Night Sky right at 8 AM ET. His delivery estimate currently falls somewhere between mid-November and December, which is a pretty good result given how quickly shipping times have slipped. But many people have taken to social media to report errors with Apple’s Store apps, and my friend Jason Cipriani has detailed his own pre-order experience at Pixels and Pizza, with his iPhone Duo order now expected to arrive in mid-December.
If you’re still hoping to get an iPhone Duo sooner, Apple isn’t your only option. Carriers and other retailers, including Best Buy, may have different inventory and delivery estimates depending on the color and storage configuration you want. The iPhone Duo comes in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB options, so it’s worth checking out a few different combinations. I’ve included links to the other retailers below so you can compare availability.
Best iPhone Duo pre-order deals in the US
Best iPhone Duo pre-orders in the UK
Want the iPhone Duo sooner?
It is also possible to take someone on the start day. Apple may have some stock in stores on October 24th, although this is not guaranteed, and you may have to wait. Another option is to keep checking Apple.com from launch day to see if an iPhone Duo is available for in-store pickup. If you’re flexible about color or storage, it’s worth checking regularly rather than assuming you’ll have to wait until 2027.
And if you’re after one of the newest iPhones with Apple’s latest and greatest silicon, there’s always the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max. Both are mighty fine phones and have earned a full five out of five stars from us.
Let me know in the comments below what you think of the iPhone Duo, how your pre-order experience went, and when your new phone is expected to arrive!
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