Apple iPhone Duo foldable phone launches with strong demand and $1,999 starting price

Sales of Apple's first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, began on Friday, October 23, 2026. The device starts at $1,999 and enters a small foldable market where Samsung Electronics and Huawei Technologies have sold premium models for several years.

Demand quickly outpaced supply. Within minutes of pre-orders opening last Friday, estimated delivery dates slipped to late January. Apple capped pre-orders at two handsets per customer and significantly limited sales for walk-in shoppers.

“This is a bit of a luxury item for me, because it's so expensive, but I just think, you know what? Life's too short.”

Crowds formed outside stores despite the limits. In Sydney, customers queued before the store opened at 8am local time. Simon Krishnan, a 48-year-old engineer, paid A$3,899, about $2,734, for a Duo with 512GB memory.

In China, Liu Wei, a 26-year-old healthcare professional, queued from 6am outside a central Shanghai Apple store. He already owns a Xiaomi foldable but said he trusts Apple more and bought the Duo on launch day to try it out.

Units in China, France, Hong Kong, India and Japan were available only to customers who ordered online. Apple described the customer response as nothing short of extraordinary.

The launch is an early test for new CEO John Ternus, who took charge in September and unveiled the phone barely a week later. Apple has never publicly explained why it waited seven years to enter the foldable category.

Apple's market share in China has rebounded as some buyers trade up to premium devices while others seek value at the lower end, putting pressure on mid-range brands.