iPhone Duo Preorders Stretch Into 2027 as Apple Enters Foldable Market

Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, opened for preorders on Friday at 5 a.m. PT through Apple's website and the Apple Store app, according to CNET. The handset carries an October 23 release date, but preordered units currently show shipping estimates of January 29.

CNET reports that buyers hoping for earlier delivery may have another route: purchasing in stores on the October 23 launch day. The gap between the release date and the shipping estimate suggests strong early interest, though Apple has not published official sales or preorder figures.

What CNET found in a brief hands-on

CNET Senior Tech Reporter Abrar Al Heeti handled the iPhone Duo briefly before preorders opened. She characterized it as essentially a compact iPhone that can also serve as an iPad Mini, a device she considered well suited to media consumption.

In her description, the phone has a satisfying feel and makes the display crease nearly invisible when the screen is on. That observation comes from limited time with the device and is not a full review.

Hardware and software details

The iPhone Duo's inner display measures 7.6 inches when unfolded, which CNET describes as the largest iPhone screen to date. A 5.4-inch outer display handles closed-screen use. The camera setup includes two 48-megapixel sensors: a main camera and an ultrawide.

Apple has positioned the device for multitasking, with Apple Pencil support and drag-and-drop behavior similar to what iPad users have.

Pricing starts at $1,999. CNET notes that trade-in offers and Apple's Upgrade program could reduce the out-of-pocket cost, though the practical savings depend on the device being traded in.

A late arrival in a market already shaped by Android rivals

Apple is entering the foldable category years after competing Android makers. CNET frames that timing as potentially less important to people already invested in the iPhone ecosystem. The bigger open question, according to the report, is whether the Duo can attract buyers who lean toward Android phones.

Current hinged alternatives named by CNET include the Samsung Galaxy Fold 8, the Galaxy Flip 8, and the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Those products give foldable-curious shoppers established options outside Apple's ecosystem.

What is confirmed versus what remains interpretation

Confirmed details from CNET's reporting include the preorder start time and channels, the October 23 release date, the January 29 shipping estimate for preordered models, the display sizes, the camera specifications, Apple Pencil support, drag-and-drop multitasking, the $1,999 starting price, and the reporter's brief hands-on impressions.

Interpretation: the extended shipping window suggests demand is outpacing initial supply, but CNET does not provide preorder volumes or supply figures, so the strength of that demand cannot be quantified from this material alone. Likewise, whether the Duo appeals to Android-oriented buyers is an open question raised by CNET, not a finding.

For readers weighing an upgrade, the meaningful factors visible here are the larger inner screen, the outer display for quick tasks, camera hardware, stylus and multitasking features, and price. What remains unverified from this source is real-world durability, battery life, performance under sustained multitasking, and how the crease behaves over time, all of which typically require full reviews rather than brief hands-on sessions.

CNET's report does not include independent testing of fold durability, software optimization for foldable form factors, or comparisons with rival foldables beyond naming them.