If you were hoping to surprise someone with an iPhone Duo for Christmas, you might be out of luck. Apple's online store in the U.S. is already showing an estimated shipping date of January 25 for all configurations, following the start of pre-orders today.
It is possible that some Apple Stores will have the iPhone Duo available for walk-in customers on Friday, October 23, launch day. However, inventory is likely to be very tight. Customers interested in reserving an Apple Store pickup slot should check back on Saturday, October 24, when Apple's online store says the option will become available.
The iPhone Duo is Apple's first foldable iPhone. It uses a matte nano-texture display designed to cut down on glare and minimize the visibility of the crease. The device is equipped with four cameras, including a rear 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera, a rear 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, and a front 12-megapixel Center Stage camera on the outer display.
Production may also be a constraint. A person said to be close to Foxconn's supply chain told China's Jiemian News that final assembly yields for the device were only slightly above 60% as of September 17. Under Apple's current quality standards, that level of output could limit early supply.
Source: MacRumors · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing