Apple’s first foldable iPhone is finally in customers’ hands. The iPhone Duo hit its official on-sale date today, and the demand that built up over the past few weeks has turned the launch into one of the biggest Apple events in years.
A launch that sold out before it began
Preorders in China opened at 8 p.m. on October 16 and briefly overwhelmed Apple’s website and app, along with several major Chinese e-commerce platforms. By the next day, delivery dates on Apple’s China site and its Tmall flagship store had slipped all the way to January 2027.
The rush wasn’t limited to China. Apple capped orders at two units per customer in the US, UK and other markets after shipping dates moved into January within minutes of preorders opening.
What buyers are paying for
The Duo isn’t a casual purchase. In China it starts at CNY 15,999 for the 256GB model and climbs to CNY 26,499 for 2TB. It has a 7.6-inch foldable display and a titanium frame, and the complex construction means an inner-screen replacement is estimated at 7,998 yuan without AppleCare+. TrendForce expects Apple to ship about 5 million units in 2026, close to a quarter of the global foldable market.
The scalper question
Scalpers have long been part of Apple launches in mainland China, buying stock and selling it on at a premium. This time the markups look fairly restrained, at least compared with the price of the phone.
A month before launch, second-hand sellers were already asking for CNY 1,000 to 5,000 above retail. After preorders opened, users with early delivery slots were reselling at roughly 500 to 1,000+ yuan over retail, though a few platforms recorded deals at a 6,000 yuan premium.
On a phone costing 16,000 yuan or more, a 500 to 1,000 yuan premium is only a few percent. The two-per-customer cap, the January backlog and the sheer price probably make big-margin flipping a risky bet. Anyone holding stock needs buyers willing to pay far above an already steep sticker price.
The takeaway
The Duo’s first days show real appetite for foldables from a mainstream brand. Apple’s purchase limits and high pricing seem to be keeping the grey market in check, even as delivery dates stretch into the new year. If you want one without a scalper’s markup, the safest options are to order from Apple directly and be patient.