If you were hoping to just walk into a store and buy the new foldable iPhone Duo, you might need to rethink your plans depending on where you live. Apple has officially announced that it will not sell the device to walk-in customers in Japan and South Korea on launch day. Anyone looking to grab the phone in these two countries will need a confirmed pickup reservation.
Supply issues and scalpers force a strict reservation rule
The company posted notices on its regional websites for Japan and South Korea, stating that both the new foldable and the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be limited to buyers who book a pickup time in advance. This rule takes effect when the phones launch on Friday, October 23.
It is likely pushing this policy to handle limited stock and fight off scalpers in the Asian market. Pre-orders went live recently, and shipping estimates quickly slipped to late January. After seeing this response, the company described the early interest as extraordinary and promised it is working hard to meet the demand.
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Global launch day walk-ins remain unconfirmed for buyers
While the new device will be sitting on display tables worldwide starting October 23, buying one on a whim might be tough anywhere. The tech giant has not clarified if the strict reservation policy will expand outside of Japan and South Korea.
Recent reports suggest that some retail workers were told to warn buyers against showing up on launch day without an order. This was an internal heads-up rather than an official public statement, but it paints a clear picture. Even if a local store allows walk-ins, the actual inventory is going to be incredibly small. If you missed out on pre-orders, your best bet is checking the online store for pickup slots opening on October 24.
The shift away from walk-in sales shows just how hard it is to launch a completely new form factor. If you want the latest hardware on day one, waiting in line outside a store is no longer enough. You need to secure your spot online before you even leave the house.
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