Apple is reportedly advising its retail staff to warn customers against walk-in purchases of the iPhone Duo on its October 23 launch day, citing significant supply constraints. This could mean limited availability for Indian buyers as well.
Apple retail employees have reportedly been instructed to warn customers that visiting stores to buy the new iPhone Duo without a pre-order on its October 23 launch day will likely be fruitless. The company is reportedly facing significant supply constraints for its first foldable smartphone.
According to samaa tv, which cited MacRumors, some Apple Store staff were advised that stock for walk-in purchases would likely be unavailable on launch day. Employees were reportedly told to discourage customers from coming to stores expecting to buy the device without a reservation.
This guidance appears to reflect very limited inventory for the iPhone Duo. It remains unclear if this warning applies globally or how strictly it will be implemented. Apple's online store currently suggests checking again on Saturday, October 24, for pickup availability, although it does not guarantee devices will be available then. Pickup reservations were briefly offered when pre-orders opened, but that option was later disabled.
Reports of production struggles for the iPhone Duo emerged months ago. Nikkei Asia reported in early September that production had only reached a few hundred devices per day in late August. More production problems were reported later that same month.
Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman also reported earlier in October that Apple had considered delaying the start of sales until November because of these manufacturing constraints. While the company ultimately managed to assemble enough inventory to proceed with the October 23 launch, supplies remained tight.
The extent of this supply shortage became clearer when pre-orders opened earlier this week. Delivery estimates quickly moved beyond the launch day within minutes. In Apple's US online store, all configurations reportedly showed shipping estimates of January 25 within just 30 minutes. MacRumors noted that the device has effectively sold out for Christmas through Apple's online store.
Apple, in a statement to the Financial Times, described demand for the iPhone Duo as “nothing short of extraordinary.” The company added it was working to deliver devices to customers as quickly as possible. The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the United States, with the first pre-order deliveries scheduled for October 23.
What This Could Mean for Indian Buyers
For Indian consumers, this news about limited global stock is certainly something to note. Apple has not yet publicly clarified how many devices, if any, will be available for walk-in purchases at its stores on launch day, and there's no official word on India pricing or availability.
Typically, new flagship Apple products see a staggered launch, with India often getting devices weeks or even months after the initial US release. Given the severe supply constraints reported for the US market, it's reasonable to expect any potential India launch to also face very limited initial stock.
The US starting price of $1,999 translates to approximately ₹1,66,000 at current exchange rates, before considering import duties, taxes, and local margins. This means the iPhone Duo, if it launches in India, would likely be significantly more expensive.
If you are an Indian buyer eyeing the iPhone Duo, it's probably best to manage your expectations. Waiting for official announcements from Apple India regarding local pricing and availability is the sensible approach. Don't count on walking into an Apple Store here and picking one up without a pre-order, even if a local launch is confirmed.
