Hundreds of iPhone Duo demo units will land in flagship stores

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple is spreading a big stock of demo phones across its stores, weighted toward the busiest locations:

• Apple Fifth Avenue, New York: more than 150 units across hands-on tables and fixtures.
• Apple Park Visitor Center, Cupertino: nearly 100.
• Big city stores such as the Upper West Side in Manhattan, the Grove in Los Angeles and Michigan Avenue in Chicago: roughly 30 to 40 each.
• Smaller stores: around 20.

Even that smallest number is generous for a phone that only comes in two colors. Apple has not confirmed the plan publicly, so exact counts may differ by store.

Apple is not just adding more phones. It has designed new store furniture around the Duo.

One is a MagSafe stand that holds an unfolded Duo beside two standard iPhones, which makes it easy to compare sizes side by side. Some Duo units will also sit along the sides of stores without the usual security cable, so you can pick one up and try StandBy mode (the clock and widget view that appears when the phone is propped up) the way you would at home.

Some stores will also get a fixture that shows a Duo opening and closing on its own. The idea is that you cannot walk in without noticing it.

A demo is the best way to answer the questions a spec sheet cannot. Here is what is worth trying:

• The two screens. Closed, the Duo has a 5.4-inch outer display. Open, it becomes a 7.6-inch screen, Apple’s largest iPhone display yet and 50% bigger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
• Touch ID. The Duo unlocks with a fingerprint on the side button instead of Face ID. Early reviewers said it takes some getting used to.
• Apps on the big screen. The Duo brings Split View, two apps side by side, to the iPhone for the first time. Apps not yet updated show black bars on each side, so check the ones you use most.
• The crease and hinge. Open and close it a few times and see whether the fold bothers you.

Apple has started marking updated apps with a “Made for iPhone Duo” badge in the App Store. Netflix, Prime Video, Slack and Instagram are among those with Duo layouts at launch, while Microsoft Word and Outlook are due in the coming weeks.

Preorders opened on October 16, and launch-day delivery disappeared within minutes. Shipping estimates slid to November, then December, then January 2027. Apple called the preorder demand “nothing short of extraordinary” but has not said how many units it had, and reports before launch pointed to trouble ramping up production of the complex design.

Apple has not confirmed whether stores will have phones to sell to walk-in customers on Friday. Resellers are already cashing in: the 2TB model has been listed on eBay for close to $5,000.

Here is what the Duo costs in the US. The 256GB model is $1,999, 512GB is $2,199, 1TB is $2,599 and 2TB is $3,199. It comes in star white or night sky. Carriers are offering trade-in deals of up to $1,200 off and monthly plans from $55.

If you are serious about buying, a store trip is worth it, but go in with a plan:

• Check the Apple Store app for in-store pickup before you go, since walk-in stock is not guaranteed.
• Ask your carrier too. AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile may get their own stock.
• If you decide you want one, place an online order anyway. You will be in the queue, even if delivery is months away.
• Skip the resale market. Prices that far above list are likely to fall as supply improves.

And if the demo convinces you that a foldable is right but the wait is not, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold are already in stores.