Apple says iPhone Duo demand is extraordinary as delivery estimates reach late January
Apple says it is working to fulfil iPhone Duo preorders after estimated delivery dates in the UAE moved to January 22, months after orders opened.
Apple said on Saturday, October 17, that iPhone Duo preorder demand was extraordinary and it was working to get phones to customers quickly, as estimated delivery dates on its UAE online store reached January 22. The National reported that the date applied to all four storage capacities and both colours, leaving customers ordering now facing a wait of more than three months.
An Apple representative told The National that demand had been ‘nothing short of extraordinary’. The representative said online orders would continue and that Apple looked forward to welcoming customers at its stores worldwide. Apple has not disclosed iPhone Duo order totals or how much stock it had available, so the delivery estimates alone cannot establish the number of phones sold.
How far iPhone Duo delivery estimates have moved
Apple began accepting online orders on Friday, October 16. The National said estimates moved from November to December and, by Saturday, toward late January. It found similar estimates on Apple’s US and UK sites, though dates could vary elsewhere. For comparison, its checks put iPhone 18 Pro delivery estimates at about two to three weeks.
The Saturday update follows NewsJaws’ report on the initial shift into January after preorders opened. Bloomberg, in a report published by The Straits Times, said shipping estimates slipped into January within minutes of the October 16 opening. Its checks covered both colours and storage options from 256GB to 2TB.
Bloomberg also reported that Apple retail stores ran out of launch-day preorder stock almost immediately after orders opened in New York. The iPhone Duo is due for release on October 23, but Apple has not confirmed whether a particular store will have units for walk-in customers that day. The phone starts at $1,999 in the United States; The National put UAE prices between Dh8,499 and Dh13,599.
Apple’s first foldable enters a crowded market
The Duo is Apple’s first folding phone and one of its first major product launches under chief executive John Ternus, who took the role in September. Its arrival puts Apple into a foldable category already served by rivals including Samsung. Counterpoint Research has estimated that Apple could sell about six million Duos in 2026, an industry forecast rather than a count of preorders. Apple has not said how much of the longer wait reflects demand, limited supply or both.
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Sources and context
- Apple to 'work hard' to fulfil iPhone Duo deliveries as orders overwhelm stockThe National
- Apple iPhone Duo orders slip into 2027 amid preorder frenzyBloomberg, published by The Straits Times
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.