Apple's $2,000 iPhone Duo Opens for Pre-Order at 8AM ET
Apple's first foldable, the $2,000 iPhone Duo, went on pre-order Thursday at 8 a.m. ET ahead of an October 23 launch, with early supply expected to run short of demand.
The Apple Store went offline before orders began, replaced by a placeholder page addressed to waiting customers. "We love that early energy," the page read, according to Engadget. "Almost ready for you. Pre-order begins at 5:00 AM PT. See you soon."
Engadget's Sam Rutherford, in a hands-on look at the device, called the iPhone Duo "Apple's most exciting device in a decade." It is not the first folding phone on the market, but its 5.4-inch outer display and 7.6-inch inner OLED matte widescreen when unfolded position it for media viewing, an experience Rutherford compared to using a small iPad. He described the inner display as practically seamless, with subtle gradient and depth-of-field effects.
The compromises are on the specification sheet as well as the receipt. The iPhone Duo carries a $2,000 price tag, omits Face ID, and does not offer the variable aperture in its main camera that the new iPhone 18 Pro models do. The under-display FaceTime camera on the inner screen is also a step down, though it leaves the unfolded device looking sleeker.
Engadget reported that all indications point to high demand and relatively short supply, which would make pre-ordering a better option than waiting for launch day. Folding phones draw attention from onlookers, and that alone may be reason enough for some buyers, the site said, noting that its writer had used one of Samsung's Galaxy Fold models for several months.
Buyers hoping to secure a unit were advised to reach the iPhone Duo order page at 5 a.m. PT sharp.