Apple's First Folding iPhone Is Already Sold Out Until Next Year

Apple called early demand for the iPhone Duo "nothing short of extraordinary" as U.S. delivery dates slipped to January 2027. The Duo is Apple's first phone that folds in half, and it is due out on Oct. 23.

The wait grew fast. At first, new orders were expected in late October. Those dates then moved to November, then December, then January, according to preorder tracking reported on Oct. 16 9to5Mac. You can no longer order an iPhone Duo from Apple and get it in 2026 MacRumors.

Apple said it is working hard to get the phone to buyers as quickly as possible and will keep taking orders online Engadget. Its statement to CNBC did not say how many phones were ordered or where.

The cheapest version costs $1,999 and holds 256 GB CBS News. Apple's case for it costs $79 in the U.S. The phone will reach 28 other countries and regions starting Friday, October 30, according to Apple's September announcement Apple Newsroom. Apple Newsroom now shows it with the headline "Open up to new possibilities with iPhone Duo."

The broader context here helps explain the delay. A folding phone needs new factory tools, new folding screens, new hinges and new final checks. All of those steps must grow together, like stations on an assembly line. When one station is slow, the whole line is slow.

Looking at what this means for buyers, timing and choice are the issues. Most early orders go to the cheapest model and to launch-day delivery. Big company buyers and phone carriers will need to plan for deliveries in batches, not all on day one. App makers who need to test how apps look folded and unfolded may get the software tools weeks before they get the actual phone.

In my view, the key is not the January date but whether it changes. If dates hold firm or move closer as Oct. 23 nears and the Oct. 30 rollout abroad begins, that points to factories getting better results. If dates move later, that points to a problem deeper down among parts makers. Both are normal with a brand-new design.

There is also a longer adoption arc to keep in mind. Folding phones have been around for several years, but software gaps, worries about breaking and high prices have kept most people away. At $1,999, the Duo is still for early buyers. Apple's chance is to make folding simple for many more people and give app makers one clear phone to build for. That takes a few versions, not one sales weekend.