Apple’s iPhone Duo sells out in seconds, so many buyers may wait until December

Apple’s first foldable is a hit, but getting one may be hard. The iPhone Duo opened for pre-order in the US on Friday. Prices start at $1,999 for the 256GB model, with the 512GB version costing $2,199 and the 1TB model reaching $2,599. According to early reports, stock vanished within seconds in China. Many shoppers left empty-handed, and resellers moved in fast.

Reports say new orders in China now ship in December. Apple Store staff told Chinese media that the new hinge limits output, so very few units reached shelves. One estimate says the first batch is no more than 200,000 units across all channels. Earlier posts said supply was enough, but later reports tell a different story. Leakers are now asking who actually managed to buy one.

Scalpers took a large share of the stock, according to store staff. The 256GB model has already been listed for as much as $3,885 on Chinese resale platforms. That is nearly $1,900 above Apple’s official US price of $1,999. The 1TB version will not arrive until next year, according to reports from China.

The phone runs on the A20 Pro chip with 12GB of RAM. Geekbench 7 listings show 3,986 single-core and 11,067 multi-core points. That is close to the iPhone 18 Pro series, so you give up no speed for the fold.

The frame is titanium, and the body is only 5.2mm thick when unfolded. Both screens run at 120Hz. The inner screen hides an under-screen camera and has a matte, nano-texture finish. US models use eSIM. Tim Cook says the phone is made entirely in China. He also praised how the hinge feels each time you open it.

Apple also says it built the display with Samsung from scratch, rather than buying an off-the-shelf panel. Its engineers have spoken about the crease, screen durability and the need for a stylus.

Apple’s out-of-warranty prices are steep. A new inner screen costs around $1,200. The outer screen costs around $480, and a battery swap costs about $285. A rear camera repair costs around $270. Other damage can cost up to $1,800. That is why AppleCare+ looks like a smart add-on if you buy one.

Carriers are already rewarding loyal users in China. China Unicom gives priority to customers who have used iPhones since 2009. A video of a suspected retail unboxing has also appeared online, though nobody has proven it is real.