EL7.AI
StocksMedium•22 October 2026•
3 min read

Apple prepares to launch iPhone Duo on October 23 with limited store supplies

Key Facts

1The 256-gigabyte iPhone Duo in "Night Sky" costs $1,999.00 at Apple's U.S. store when buyers choose to connect to a carrier later.
2Counterpoint Research estimated iPhone Duo sales of about 6 million units this year in a forecast issued before pre-orders began.
3The phone will become available in 28 additional countries and regions starting October 30.
4Reuters reported that initial online orders sold out within minutes and delivery dates for some customers slipped into January.

Apple is preparing to launch its foldable "iPhone Duo" with limited quantities for walk-in buyers after initial online orders sold out within minutes, Reuters reported, citing the company, in a report published on October 21. The agency said delivery dates for some customers had slipped into January, beyond the scheduled October launch month. Apple described the quantities it would make available to walk-in customers at launch as "limited", while some online buyers await their devices. The company opened pre-orders on October 16 at 5 a.m. Pacific time, according to its official statement. Customers could place those orders through its website and the Apple Store app, the two channels it designated for early reservations.

The phone features a foldable design and a 7.6-inch inner display, according to the launch specifications announced by Apple. In the official unveiling statement, Chief Executive John Ternus described the device as "the biggest transformation in iPhone since the original". Apple's U.S. store lists a 256-gigabyte version in a color the company calls "Night Sky". That version costs $1,999.00 when buyers choose to connect the phone to a carrier later, according to the store listing. This is the listed price for the configuration combining the specified storage capacity, color and connectivity option, as the company prepares to make the device available to buyers.

Before pre-orders began, Counterpoint Research estimated that iPhone Duo sales would reach about 6 million units this year. The forecast appeared in a report published on September 30, before online reservations opened in October. The firm said Apple was on track to sell that number during the year, in a research estimate of the phone's sales. In the stock market, Investing reported that Apple shares rose 1.6% in premarket trading on October 16 as pre-orders opened for the device. The stock subsequently closed at $343.99 in the October 21, 2026 session, according to EL7 data, a session later than the move recorded on the day reservations began.

Apple set October 23, 2026 as the date the iPhone Duo would become available, according to the phone's official page. The device will be available through the company's website when sales begin. Availability channels also include selected carriers and retail partners, according to the schedule announced by Apple. A subsequent geographic expansion will bring the phone to 28 additional countries and regions. The company set October 30 as the start date for this next launch wave, according to its official unveiling statement.