A Foldable Sellout Nobody Saw Coming
Apple has never been shy about its hardware launches, but the company is now admitting something rarely heard from Cupertino: it has no idea when the iPhone Duo will be easy to buy. CEO John Ternus told Reuters that Apple is “working hard to get it to as many customers as quickly as possible,” yet “at this point, we’re not able to predict when supply and demand will be in balance.” For a $1,999 device that just hit shelves, that is a candid answer. Preorders sold out fast, and some shipments are now expected to arrive in 2027, which tells you how hungry buyers are for a foldable from the company that defined the modern smartphone.
The phone itself has earned that enthusiasm. It pairs a 5.4-inch outer display with a roomy 7.6-inch inner screen, turning the device into a compact pocket companion on the go and a genuinely useful tablet-sized canvas when you open it up. Apple also released a limited number of Duo models in stores at launch, so a handful of lucky shoppers walked out with one the same day. Everyone else is left refreshing order pages and hoping the next allocation comes through.
Memory Costs Are Shaping the Whole Lineup
Supply is only part of the story. Ternus described current memory pricing as “unprecedented,” and he expects “even higher memory costs” during Apple’s December quarter. Those pressures are already visible in price tags across the company’s lineup, including higher starting prices for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Apple says the increases partly offset rising component costs, but it is clear that memory chips are reshaping what premium gadgets cost to build and what shoppers pay at checkout. Foldables, which rely on extra engineering and specialized parts, feel that squeeze more than a standard slab phone.
There is also a quality wrinkle worth noting. Ternus acknowledged that “a very small percentage” of Duos were returned because of cracked screens, and Apple is replacing those units. Foldable displays have always been the category’s Achilles heel, so buyers considering one should weigh the durability question carefully and consider protective cases or extended coverage before committing. Apple’s willingness to swap affected units is reassuring, even if the overall numbers sound small.
What This Means for Your Next Upgrade
Record iPhone revenue of $57.58 billion in the fourth quarter suggests that demand for Apple hardware remains enormous, even without a standard iPhone 18 model in the mix. For shoppers, the practical takeaway is simple: if you want a Duo, plan ahead, sign up for stock alerts, and be ready to wait. If you can live without a foldable for now, the broader market is gaining momentum, and rivals are racing to offer their own folding designs with more competitive pricing. Either way, this moment marks foldables moving from novelty to mainstream consideration. Watch how quickly supply catches up in the months ahead, because that timeline will tell you when the category is ready to go from must-have for early adopters to something your everyday buying decisions can truly include.
