If you plan to visit a retail store this Friday hoping to buy the new foldable iPhone Duo without a pre-order, you might want to arrive early. The tech giant confirmed that there will only be a very small amount of units available for walk-in shoppers. Demand for the new device pushed initial delivery dates all the way into next year, making store inventory incredibly tight.
Retail stores prepare for crowds with strict buying limits
To help manage the high demand and stop scalpers from taking everything on day one, Apple is placing a hard cap on purchases. Anyone lucky enough to find the new phone in stock can only buy a maximum of two devices per person.
The company stated that physical stores in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Mexico, and Türkiye will carry a small number of units for walk-in buyers. Certain locations in Italy and Macao will also have some day-one inventory available.
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However, walk-in sales are completely banned in India, China, Japan, France, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates. Buyers in those regions must book a specific pickup time slot through the online store if they want to get the device on launch day.
Online orders face long delays well into next year
When online pre-orders went live last week, the initial batch sold out in roughly thirty minutes. People buying the new iPhone online right now are seeing delivery estimates stretched as far back as January.
The company called the early customer response extraordinary. While some early buyers have seen their shipping dates improve slightly, most people who missed the first wave of pre-orders will be waiting a while. If you decide to try your luck at a physical store this Friday, walking away with a new phone will likely require getting in line well before the doors open.
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