Industry Odisha Bureau, Oct 24: Apple’s first foldable iPhone sold out quickly at many stores on launch day. Tight Chinese production and a $1,999 price now test Apple’s biggest iPhone gamble. Online buyers face waits stretching into January.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone sold out within hours at many stores on Friday, 23 October. The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, making it among the priciest mainstream smartphones yet. Even so, buyers queued across several cities, some overnight, for limited stock.
Bloomberg reported that US Apple stores each received roughly 50 to over 200 units. In New Jersey, the 256GB and 512GB models sold out within 30 minutes. Only the costlier 1TB and 2TB versions remained on shelves.
Online buyers now face long waits. Apple’s website is quoting delivery dates in late January for many new orders. Bloomberg described the delays as among Apple’s longest in its modern era.
Such scenes had largely faded from recent Apple launches. Home delivery and booked store pickups had made overnight queues rare. The Duo, however, arrived with far tighter supply than a typical iPhone. The launch contrasts sharply with the muted debut of the Vision Pro headset.
Demand varied by region. In Singapore, several hundred people lined up early, some after camping overnight. At New York’s Fifth Avenue store, the queue stretched several blocks by 5 a.m. Beijing and Shanghai saw more moderate crowds, mostly loyal customers who registered in advance. One Beijing buyer praised the larger screen but felt the camera lagged earlier models.
Early users highlighted the seamless display. “It’s incredible how it’s got no crease,” said Peter Ingram. He is a chief technology officer visiting from London. Other shoppers voiced concern over the long-term durability of the hinge.
The Duo marks the biggest design change in the iPhone’s nearly 20-year history. Samsung, Xiaomi and Oppo, however, have sold foldable phones for years. Apple is betting that polish, software integration and brand loyalty can set it apart. Foldables have so far remained a niche category.
The top 2TB model costs $3,199. Rivals have also raised prices as memory chip shortages push up component costs. Higher prices, however, do not guarantee higher profits. Production costs and manufacturing yields also shape returns.
Supply remains the central constraint. The advanced hinge and new display technology make the Duo difficult to build. Bloomberg reported it is made in only a few facilities in China. Apple has expanded conventional iPhone production into India, easing supply of standard models. The Duo, by contrast, remains concentrated in China.
The iPhone generates roughly half of Apple’s revenue. Apple reports quarterly results on 2 November. Those figures will exclude the Duo, as the quarter closed around late September. They will instead reflect early iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max sales from 18 September.
Apple is also reshaping its release calendar. Bloomberg reported the entry-level iPhone and updated Air will arrive next year. Bloomberg said the move aims to spread revenue more evenly.
Early sell-outs signal strong interest, but limited stock can exaggerate demand. Apple has released no sales figures for the Duo. Its real test is scaling production without sacrificing quality. Sustained demand beyond loyal early adopters will decide whether foldables go mainstream.
