Apple iPhone Duo will likely be unavailable to walk-in buyers at launch
Key points
- The iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable iPhone, is set to launch on Friday.
- Apple Store employees have reportedly been told the phone will be in short supply in stores.
- Some reports say Apple Stores will have no iPhone Duo units in stock at launch.
- Apple says pre-order demand has been "extraordinary" and that it will keep taking orders online.
- Apple says its teams look forward to welcoming customers to stores to try the iPhone Duo.
- Some buyers report receiving earlier delivery dates than they expected.
Apple confirmed strong demand but did not confirm the in-store claim. The company’s statement, sent to AppleInsider and other outlets, does not say how many units it has or whether stores will hold any. The report that stores will have none comes from Apple Store employees and from other reports. Apple has not said it directly.
The shortage story began before launch week. Early coverage said the phone would launch on time but be hard to find. Later reports pointed to manufacturing problems that left supply tight from the start, yet the first pre-order batch still sold out within moments. Apple does not normally say how many units of an iPhone it has ready for pre-order day, so the actual supply size is not known.
One report cuts the other way. Some buyers say their delivery dates came in earlier than first quoted. The coverage does not explain why, and it does not say whether this signals more stock than expected.
Sources
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