iPhone Duo demand means you probably can't get Apple's foldable in store

Apple's highly anticipated iPhone Duo, the company's first foldable smartphone, is facing significant supply constraints. Following reports of online shipping dates slipping into January 2027, Apple has reportedly advised retail staff that in-store availability will be extremely limited starting October 23. Customers without existing preorders are being cautioned against visiting Apple Stores in hopes of purchasing the device on launch day. The company has described initial demand for the $1,999 handset as "extraordinary," potentially exacerbated by earlier production challenges. While the device is officially launching on October 23, the combination of high consumer interest and limited inventory suggests that securing a unit will be difficult for those who did not secure a preorder. Apple continues to manage global supply chain pressures as it attempts to meet the overwhelming interest in its inaugural foldable hardware.