Anyone who missed the first few minutes of iPhone Duo pre-orders on Friday now faces a wait until 2027.
Within 30 minutes of orders opening at 5 a.m. Pacific, Apple’s U.S. online store had pushed delivery estimates for every configuration to January 25, regardless of color or storage capacity.
Customers who secured their orders immediately are still expected to receive the foldable iPhone on its October 23 launch date.
But for everyone else ordering directly from Apple, the three-month delay means they can no longer get one before Christmas.
Apple Was Already Struggling With Supply
The shortages weren’t entirely unexpected. Reports of manufacturing difficulties and limited production yields had raised concerns about iPhone Duo availability before pre-orders even opened.
Apple hasn’t disclosed how many units were available for the initial launch, making it difficult to determine how much of the rapid sellout reflects strong demand versus limited inventory.
In-store pickup briefly appeared as an option when pre-orders opened, but Apple disabled it shortly afterward. Customers are now being directed to check again on October 24 for possible pickup availability.
Finding One in Stores Won’t Be Easy Either
Anyone hoping to walk into an Apple Store on October 23 may be disappointed. Apple retail employees have reportedly been instructed to warn customers that walk-in inventory will likely be unavailable and to discourage visits without confirmed pre-orders.
Third-party retailers, including Best Buy, may offer another chance to secure the device sooner, although their inventory could be similarly limited.
Apple has described demand as “extraordinary,” but the company was already aware of production constraints before opening pre-orders.
The decision to launch with such limited inventory has since drawn criticism, especially as delivery dates have slipped more than three months past release day.
For now, customers who didn’t secure an early pre-order face a difficult choice: wait until January 2027 or try their luck with third-party retailers as the iPhone Duo reaches stores on October 23.
