Apple’s £1,999 iPhone Duo delivery estimates slip into 2027

Apple’s iPhone Duo pre-orders have barely opened, but delivery estimates for the company’s first foldable iPhone have already slipped into January 2027 in the US.

Pre-orders began at 1pm BST on Friday 16 October, ahead of the phone’s planned UK release on Friday 23 October. According to CBS News, estimated delivery dates had moved to late January by that afternoon. MacRumors reported that Apple’s US store was showing 25 January 2027 for every listed Duo configuration and colour.

UK launch date still stands

Apple has not confirmed a comparable UK-wide delivery estimate. Its UK site still lists 23 October as the availability date, although customers who did not secure an early allocation could face a later arrival.

TechRadar reported that all storage options and both colours had shifted to January estimates around five hours after pre-orders opened. Apple has not published sales figures or said whether the longer waits are down to demand, restricted launch stock, manufacturing constraints or a combination of factors.

A costly first foldable iPhone

The iPhone Duo starts at £1,999 SIM-free for 256GB in the UK. Prices rise to £2,199 for 512GB, £2,599 for 1TB and £3,199 for 2TB. Apple lists 30-month, interest-free payment examples starting at £66.63 a month for the entry model.

• 7.6-inch folding inner display and a 5.4-inch outer display
• Apple A20 Pro chip with vapour-cooled thermal management
• 48MP Dual Fusion camera system
• Grade 5 titanium body in Star White or Night Sky

Apple says the Duo ships with iOS 27.1 and offers up to 31 hours of video playback using its inner display. It is Apple’s first entry into the foldable-phone category, which is already served by manufacturers including Samsung.

For UK buyers, the immediate question is no longer just whether the Duo’s large folding screen justifies its price, but whether ordering now means missing its launch week altogether. Apple says it will also sell the handset through selected network providers and retailers from 23 October.