Apple’s iPhone Duo preorder delivery estimates slipped from the October 23 launch date to early 2027 within hours of orders opening at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The company called demand “nothing short of extraordinary” in a statement to the Financial Times, as first reported by MacRumors.
Initial online estimates showed October 23 delivery, matching the date when the first orders are scheduled to reach buyers. Within minutes, Apple’s store pushed some projected dates into November. By about 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time, certain configurations showed a January 25 estimate.
Apple’s online store now points buyers beyond 2026
At the time of the reports, Apple no longer listed any iPhone Duo configuration for delivery during 2026. Customers placing new orders instead saw estimates for early 2027, a sharp shift for a product whose preorder window had just opened.
The new handset starts at $1,999, while a 2TB version costs $3,199. Those prices make the delivery backlog significant for buyers who planned around the October 23 release rather than treating the device as a routine upgrade.
Apple said it was working to increase availability and get the product to customers quickly. Its website also said shoppers could check for possible store-pickup availability beginning October 24.
Supply concerns had surfaced before the launch
Reports ahead of preorders had warned that manufacturing problems could constrain the initial supply. The rapid changes in estimated shipping dates give those warnings more weight, although Apple has not publicly identified a production issue.
The delays matter because the iPhone Duo sits at the top end of Apple’s price range and arrives with a launch-day supply gap that could leave early customers waiting months. Store pickup could offer an alternative for some buyers, but online estimates indicate that Apple’s initial inventory has tightened quickly.
It remains unclear whether Apple will have units available for walk-in purchases on October 23, whether it can bring the displayed delivery dates forward, or what specific manufacturing problem may be limiting supply. Apple has only said that it is increasing availability as quickly as it can.
This article was produced with AI assistance from multi-source reporting and is published under our editorial standards.
