- Launches Friday, October 23
- Starts at $1,999 in the US
- Walk-in stock likely zero on launch day
- Battery 4,883 mAh across two cells
- Demand ‘extraordinary’ — online store effectively sold out for Christmas, some orders slipping to 2027
- eSIM-only device
- Pre-orders began October 16
Apple’s first foldable iPhone arrives Friday, October 23, and it is already the hardest phone of the year to buy. Apple has told retail staff to warn customers against showing up without a pre-order, and the online store is effectively sold out for Christmas.
The walk-in warning
Apple retail employees have been told there will likely be no iPhone Duo stock for walk-in purchases on launch day, and staff have been instructed to discourage customers without pre-orders from coming in. Store pickup was briefly offered during pre-orders but has been disabled, with Apple telling customers to check back Saturday, October 24.
The battery question, answered
Apple published an EU energy label revealing a total battery capacity of 4,883 mAh, split across two cells of 2,962 mAh and 1,921 mAh. For comparison, the eSIM-only iPhone 18 Pro has 4,288 mAh and the iPhone 18 Pro Max has 5,567 mAh. The Duo is eSIM-only, so the same figure applies worldwide.
Demand is extraordinary
Apple described demand as ‘nothing short of extraordinary’ to the Financial Times and says it is working to get devices to customers as quickly as possible. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman called Apple’s decision to open pre-orders despite ‘severe supply constraints’ a ‘major mistake’.
What to do if you want one
Do not rely on a walk-in. Pre-order online and check back October 24 for store pickup. If $1,999 is too steep, read our guide to what actually matters before buying a budget phones got seriously good. Source: MacRumors reports.
Bottom line
The iPhone Duo is a genuine event phone: a foldable iPhone with a real battery number, real demand, and almost no launch-day stock. If you want one this year, pre-order is the only realistic route.