This week, Friday marks the official release day of Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo. Apple announced on Wednesday that starting from Friday, Apple Stores will provide a “limited quantity” of iPhone Duo for in-store purchase, but in regions including China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, the iPhone Duo will only be available to buyers who have already placed online orders.
In September, Apple unveiled its first foldable screen phone, the iPhone Duo, which has been a hot commodity since its debut. The initial online orders for this foldable phone sold out within minutes, causing some customers to face delayed delivery dates until January next year.
Analysts predict that this product is poised to quickly dominate the niche market. While competitors like Samsung and Huawei have been exploring this field for years and have released multiple high-end foldable screen products, none have reached the level of popularity enjoyed by the iPhone Duo.
Compared to the traditional flat iPhone models, the structure of the iPhone Duo is more complex, with a precise and compact hinge design. Analysts believe that Apple may need some time to achieve large-scale production of this product.
In a statement, Apple said, “This Friday morning, our team looks forward to welcoming customers at Apple Store retail locations for them to experience the iPhone Duo and our outstanding lineup of iPhone products in person. A limited quantity of iPhone Duo will be available for in-store purchase. We are working hard to deliver this groundbreaking new product into customers’ hands as soon as possible.”
Apple mentions that the availability of inventory in offline stores may vary by country and region. In the US, Australia, Canada, Mexico, as well as the majority of UK and European regions, customers can choose to either order online for in-store pickup or directly visit the store for purchase (limited stock).
However, in some other regions, the iPhone Duo is only available to customers who have previously placed orders online. These regions include Mainland China, France, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and the UAE.
Apple also stated that in Macau, the iPhone Duo is only available for in-store purchase, with limited inventory.