October 19, 2026, 9:57 am | Read time: 2 minutes
At this year’s Apple Keynote, the spotlight wasn’t on the new regular iPhone (in this case, the Pro variants of the iPhone 18) as usual. The star of the evening was undoubtedly Apple’s first foldable smartphone. Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo are currently hot, with the official sales launch just around the corner. However, according to an insider, this could lead to chaos.
iPhone Duo Pre-orders Are Problematic
Apple insider Mark Gurman from the business magazine “Bloomberg” has come to this conclusion. In his new “Power On” newsletter, he describes the strategy for the iPhone Duo pre-orders as a “big mistake.” Fans have been able to order the device since October 16, with sales set to begin on October 23.
However, many enthusiasts will initially come up empty-handed. The manufacturer wanted to stick to the pre-order date even though it was already known that significant delivery difficulties were expected. The production of the iPhone Duo is very complicated, which means Apple can produce significantly fewer units than, for example, the regular iPhone. A viable alternative would therefore be the iPhone 18 Pro:
According to Gurman, the company should have taken more time to provide a sufficiently large number of devices. This will disappoint many, the expert says. Apparently, Apple considered it more important to release the iPhone Duo within the current fiscal quarter than to actually meet demand.
Apple Employees to Turn Away Customers
As “MacRumors” writes, Apple’s original plan initially included a sales launch only in the U.S. and China. However, the Californians reportedly added more and more countries. In the end, iPhone Duo pre-orders began simultaneously in 70 countries.
Just half an hour after the start, delivery dates were pushed back, likely due to immense demand. In most countries, Apple fans are expected to receive their Duo around January 25, 2027. Apple typically handles such information cautiously, and they often deliver earlier.
Also interesting: What Makes Apple’s iPhone Duo Better Than the Competition
Those who prefer to visit an Apple Store in person on October 23 might be out of luck. Allegedly, employees are instructed to warn people without pre-orders that they are unlikely to get a unit. This is intended to prevent them from entering the store at all. The chance of bypassing the long delivery times this way is therefore extremely slim.