Friday, October 16, 2026
Tech

iPhone Duo preorders open at $1,999 with October 23 release

Rive News Research Desk

Published · 5 min read

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Key takeaways

  • Apple opened iPhone Duo preorders on October 16. The phone starts at $1,999.
  • The Duo is Apple's first foldable iPhone. It opens into a 7.6-inch screen.
  • First orders arrive on October 23. Sales cover more than 70 countries.
Foldable phones with a book-style fold, shown closed and open
Foldable phones like these Samsung models show the basic idea. A phone folds shut, then opens into a bigger screenPhotograph: Ka Kit Pang / Wikimedia CommonsImage: Wikimedia Commons

Apple opened preorders for the iPhone Duo on October 16. The Duo is Apple's first foldable iPhone. It starts at $1,999.

The first orders arrive on October 23.

What happened

Apple opened iPhone Duo preorders on October 16, 2026. Buyers can order on the Apple website. They can also order in the Apple Store app.

Apple first showed the phone on September 9. That left about five weeks between the reveal and preorder day.

Preorders opened in more than 70 countries and regions, according to MacRumors. The Apple Store came back online in waves. Some buyers had to wait a short time.

Some had to refresh the page. That is normal on a big launch day.

Phone carriers also took preorders. MacRumors named Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Searches for the phone jumped on preorder day.

Google Trends listed it as a top rising search.

What the phone is

The Duo is Apple's first foldable iPhone. It folds like a book. Closed, it has a 5.4-inch outer screen.

Open, it has a 7.6-inch inner screen. That is a big jump in screen size.

Apple says the open screen is 50% larger. The comparison is with the iPhone 18 Pro Max screen. USA Today cites an Apple news release for that claim.

You can run two apps side by side. You can also use one app on the full screen. When open, the phone is 5.2 millimeters thin.

MacRumors calls it Apple's thinnest iPhone to date.

The frame mixes aluminum and titanium. The hinge has more than 100 parts. The hinge lets the phone sit at many angles.

Apple dropped Face ID on this model. It uses Touch ID instead. Touch ID reads your fingerprint to unlock the phone.

The chip is Apple's A20 Pro. It powers Apple Intelligence features. Apple Intelligence is Apple's AI system.

The phone runs iOS 27. iOS is the software that runs on iPhones.

The main camera is 48 megapixels. There is also a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera. Ultra Wide means it fits more in the photo.

A megapixel measures photo detail.

The front has a Center Stage camera. It also has a FaceTime camera under the inner screen. Apple Pencil works with the phone.

You can use it to write notes or sketch.

Battery life depends on which screen you use. USA Today reports up to 44 hours of video playback on the outer screen. The inner screen gives up to 31 hours.

What it costs

The base model costs $1,999. That buys 256 gigabytes of storage. Storage is the space for apps, photos, and files.

The 512-gigabyte model costs $2,199. The 1-terabyte model costs $2,599. The 2-terabyte model costs $3,199.

A terabyte is 1,000 gigabytes.

You can also pay each month. USA Today lists $83.29 per month for 24 months for the base model. Apple also offers a lease plan.

MacRumors says lease prices start at $57.99 per month. The lease runs through Apple's Apple Upgrade program.

Trade-ins can cut the price. A trade-in means you give Apple your old phone. MacRumors says trade-ins can save $175 to $885.

That range covers an iPhone 13 or newer.

Carriers have their own deals. 9to5Mac says carrier prices start near $55 per month. Some carrier deals offer up to $1,200 off with a trade-in.

Cases cost extra. Apple sells a Folio case for $129. It also sells a two-part Case for $79.

Repairs can cost a lot without cover. MacRumors says some repair fees reach $1,499 without AppleCare+. AppleCare+ is Apple's paid repair cover plan.

A smartphone held in one hand
A smartphone in hand. The Duo works like a normal phone when it stays shutPhotograph: Unsplash, via Wikimedia CommonsImage: Wikimedia Commons

Why it matters

Apple is late to foldable phones. USA Today notes that Samsung and Huawei have sold foldables since 2019. Google launched its first Pixel Fold in 2023.

Apple is now joining that market.

The Duo tests a big question. Will buyers pay $1,999 for a folding iPhone? That price is near a laptop price.

Foldable phones also raise a screen question. The screen bends each time you fold it. Buyers will watch how it holds up over time.

Reports before launch warned that supply could be tight. MacRumors said rumors pointed to limited early stock. That means some buyers may wait longer.

Search interest was high on preorder day.

For Apple, the Duo is a new product line. It could bring in buyers who want a phone and tablet in one device.

What happens next

First orders arrive on October 23. That is one week after preorders opened. If you order now, check the delivery date at checkout.

Delivery dates can shift if stock runs low.

Before you order, pick your storage size. Photos and videos fill storage fast. Think about a case and repair cover too.

Repairs can cost up to $1,499 without AppleCare+, according to MacRumors.

When your phone arrives, set it up with care. New iPhones often use an eSIM instead of a plastic SIM card. Some iPhones can hold two eSIMs at once.

You can also set up passkeys to sign in without passwords.

Watch for hands-on reviews after October 23. They will show the screen, hinge, and battery in real use. Apple has not shared sales numbers yet.

The iPhone Duo is Apple's boldest iPhone in years. It folds, it opens wide, and it starts at $1,999. The next test comes on October 23.

That is when buyers first hold it in their hands. Then we will see if the foldable iPhone earns its price.

TaggediPhone DuoApplefoldable phone

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