Apple’s $2,000 Foldable Is Finally Here. Good Luck Finding One.

AT A GLANCE

• Apple’s first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, went on sale Friday for about $2,000
• Pre-orders were capped at two per customer, with delivery dates pushed to late January
• IDC expects Apple to lead the foldables market in value and units by 2027
• Reviews are mixed

Apple’s first foldable could bring the format to a far wider audience, but tight supply is keeping it out of most hands for now.

Apple’s iPhone Duo hit stores worldwide on Friday. Demand looked strong, but rationed sales meant far fewer of the round-the-block queues that once marked iPhone launch day.

KEY DETAILS

Delivery estimates slipped to late January within minutes of pre-orders opening a week ago. Apple called the response “nothing short of extraordinary.”

Each customer could buy two phones at most, and walk-in sales were limited. In China, France, Hong Kong, India and Japan, in-store buyers had to have ordered online first.

Queues still formed in Sydney, New York and London. Some buyers were resellers, including one in Hong Kong planning a profit of around HK$4,000.

Early reviews praise the design and the barely visible hinge. They also flag no telephoto lens and apps that still need updating for the new screen. Several prominent reviewers advise most Apple customers to skip it.

MARKET REACTION

IDC expects Apple to take 44% of foldable market value in 2026 on 31% of units. By 2027, it forecasts Apple will lead in both.

WHY IT MATTERS

The Duo is an early test for new CEO John Ternus, who unveiled it barely a week after taking charge in September. Samsung and Huawei have sold foldables for years, so Apple needs to show it can shake up this corner of the market.

In China, smartphone shipments have fallen for six straight quarters, though Apple’s share has rebounded as buyers trade up.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT

Supply. IDC’s Francisco Jeronimo says the next test is turning excitement into availability and lasting adoption.

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Source: Reuters