Apple has overpromised and underdelivered on iPhone Duo pre-orders, pushing delivery estimates in some markets to late January 2027 and, less than 30 minutes after pre-orders opened, seeing its estimated shipping date slip from October 23 to January 25.
iPhone Duo launch problems
Apple initially planned to sell the iPhone Duo in the USA and China before expanding to additional markets. At the last minute, the company decided to launch the foldable in more than seventy regions simultaneously, up from the initial two. That unexpected expansion created a massive bottleneck in Apple’s supply chain.
Industry watcher Mark Gurman called the decision a “major mistake,” and many observers have echoed that view. Apple seemingly moved to a broad launch despite not having enough iPhone Duo units in stock to meet demand across dozens of regions.
Supply chain and consumer reaction
Customers who placed pre-orders in the first 30 minutes received faster estimated delivery dates, but for buyers in most markets the change felt like an unnecessary bait-and-switch. The launch has raised concerns about consumer trust: many buyers do not want to order a phone and wait several months for delivery in a market where new models typically appear about every 12 months or so.
It is possible Apple was surprised by higher-than-expected demand for foldable phones and adjusted its plans at the last minute. Regardless of the reason, the iPhone Duo launch is widely seen as a mess. While it will probably not severely damage Apple’s brand, the rollout highlights that Samsung remains several steps ahead in the foldable phone market.
