Apple's first foldable iPhone landed in U.S. stores on Friday, Oct. 23, a week after preorders opened. Walking in and buying one wasn't that simple. Reuters reported that Apple rationed iPhone Duo sales, capped preorders at two devices per customer and constrained walk-in sales, with availability rules that varied by country.
The phone starts at $1,999 for 256GB, according to Apple, with 512GB, 1TB and 2TB versions also sold. SaveOnPhone has not verified prices for the larger capacities.
If you've already settled on the Duo, check stock for the exact capacity and color you want before driving to a store. Apple’s no-interest installment plan costs effectively the same as cash for the phone itself, but it takes credit approval and a carrier choice at checkout.
What launch day showed
Launch-day lines were smaller than at some earlier iPhone debuts, Reuters observed. Preorders told a different story: within minutes of opening on Oct. 16, estimated delivery dates slid to late January, which Reuters attributed to demand exceeding available supply. That late-January date is what shoppers saw in those first minutes. It is not the current wait for any particular configuration.
Neither Apple nor Reuters disclosed production totals, retail allocations or a general restock date. Neither source shows current inventory at any specific Apple Store or carrier, or for any color or capacity. Reuters described strong demand and scarce supply together, but without production figures there's no way to say how much each contributed to the shortage.
What the 24-month plan costs
For the base model, Apple advertises Apple Card Monthly Installments at $83.29 a month for 24 months, at 0% APR on the device. Run the full term and you pay $1,998.96 — effectively the $1,999 cash price, with no interest on the hardware.
The conditions are worth reading before checkout:
- Qualification and credit approval are required.
- Buyers have to pick AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon at checkout. Apple says a phone financed this way stays unlocked.
- Special online storefronts are excluded.
- Taxes and shipping don't get the 0% rate; they're charged at the Apple Card's variable APR.
Because taxes and shipping are subject to the card’s variable APR, they could generate interest if that portion of the balance is not paid promptly. Any extra cost would depend on the amount charged, the applicable APR and how quickly the balance is paid; the sources do not provide enough information to estimate it.
eSIM only, so check your plan first
The iPhone Duo is eSIM-only, so it needs a carrier and plan that support eSIM activation. Apple says more than 500 carriers support eSIM service on the device, including AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Prepaid and MVNO customers should confirm eSIM support with their own provider before buying.
There's also a gap for prepaid and MVNO customers who want Apple's financing. The published terms require choosing AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon at checkout, and they don't say how service from another provider fits that step, or whether you must keep the carrier you select. Ask Apple rather than assuming either way.