Buying an iPhone Duo may become much harder after launch. Mark Gurman expects demand for Apple’s first foldable to become so intense that shortages, overseas scalping and sharply higher eBay prices could define its first months on sale.
Apple will open pre-orders on October 16 before the phone reaches stores on October 23. The company says the Duo will launch in more than 70 countries and regions, but Gurman believes supply pressure could still become extreme by early next year.
A global launch may not prevent scarcity
Gurman predicts that people will “scalp the device for sale overseas” and that shortages may even exceed the Mac supply problems created by the AI boom. This is a forecast rather than a confirmed production figure, and Apple has not published launch inventory or a sales target.
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Several factors could tighten supply. The Duo uses a folding OLED panel, a hinge built from more than 100 parts and a custom dual-battery layout. Apple also describes the inner screen as a layered design with high-strength glass, custom adhesives and a nano-texture surface. These are not ordinary iPhone components that suppliers can immediately produce at mature volumes.
Buyers also have fewer launch alternatives inside Apple’s ecosystem. The story behind Apple’s long Duo development explains why the company waited for its preferred design, while our complete iPhone Duo specifications guide covers the hardware that makes this first generation unusually complex.
Apple’s official launch details show that availability expands to 28 additional countries on October 30. A staggered rollout can help manage inventory, but it can also encourage resellers to move phones from early markets into places that must wait.
Apple’s Safari Notify Me feature may also increase the pressure by alerting shoppers when product pages change, including restocks. However, Apple has not said whether it will use a queue, reservation system or purchase limit for the Duo, and availability may vary considerably between stores, carriers and countries.
Anyone planning to buy should use Apple’s listed pre-order time and avoid paying an unsupported resale premium before independent reviews arrive. Apple has not confirmed a shortage, so Gurman’s prediction should not be treated as a guarantee. Would you pay above retail to get a Duo early, or wait for supply to settle? Tell us in the comments.
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