Apple's first foldable is here: the $1,999 iPhone Duo is selling out as stores open their doors

The launch

Sales of Apple's first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, began on Friday, BusinessWorld Online reported, with Sydney's Apple store the first to sell the phones as a queue formed outside before the 8 a.m. opening. The phone goes on sale in more than 70 countries and regions on October 23, with 28 more set for October 30, TokenPost reported. In Sydney, customers filled the store for launch demonstrations of the $1,999 device. The Duo opens like a book to a 7.6-inch Super Retina inner display — which Apple says is 50 per cent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max's display — and folds down to a 5.4-inch outer screen, with support for the USB-C Apple Pencil. The $1,999 starting price buys 256GB of storage; other options run $2,199 for 512GB, $2,599 for 1TB and $3,199 for 2TB, becoming.is reported. It comes in sky white and night sky, runs iOS 27 with Apple Intelligence and the new Siri AI, and returns Touch ID alongside a 48-megapixel Fusion main camera.

Extraordinary demand, limited supply

The launch is a stress test for Apple's brand-new leadership. New CEO John Ternus — the former hardware chief who took charge in September — unveiled the Duo barely a week after becoming CEO, BusinessWorld reported. Within minutes of preorders opening last Friday, Apple's estimated delivery dates had slipped to late January as demand outpaced supply; the company called the response from customers "nothing short of extraordinary." Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, told an interview published October 22 that Apple had not shipped all units through preorders and had devices available in stores — but warned walk-in stock would be limited. Production yields for foldable panels and hinges are low, Particle reported, and in several countries in-store pickup is restricted to customers who placed orders in advance.

The rough edges

Early reports carry a familiar warning for first-generation foldables. A small number of buyers posted images of cracks near the internal hinge, Particle reported; the reports are limited, Apple has replaced at least one unit, and analysts say reliability, production ramp and app optimization will decide the Duo's market impact. Software is the other gap: Apple highlighted more than 50 apps ready or coming for the larger screen, but early testing found familiar services like Gmail, Google Maps and Microsoft Word still using layouts built for conventional phones, Asia Daily reported. Netflix, Prime Video and MLB were among those putting the fold to work. For a device priced close to $2,000, the practical question is whether the apps buyers use every day make real use of the bigger screen.

The Canadian angle

Canada is squarely in Apple's first wave — the 70-plus launch countries cover Apple's major markets — but the Canadian price story is worth watching. At US$1,999, the Duo undercuts nothing; with the loonie weak and memory costs pushing prices higher across the industry, the Canadian sticker will likely land well north of C$2,500 once Apple Canada's pricing, taxes and carrier financing terms are factored in (Apple had not published Canadian pricing at press time — check before you line up). The broader signal matters more: Samsung and Huawei have sold premium foldables for years, but Apple entering the category legitimizes it overnight. Expect Canadian carriers to push the Duo hard on device financing this holiday season — and expect the trade-in values on your current iPhone to do some heavy lifting.