Apple’s first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, saw its scheduled shipping dates pushed back to January of next year just two days after pre-orders began. Listings have even emerged on secondhand trading platforms offering the product, which has a 3.59 million won launch price, for 4.5 million won.
As of the afternoon of October 18, the scheduled shipping date for all models of the iPhone Duo on the official Apple website in South Korea was listed as January 22 of next year. Pre-sales began at 9 p.m. on October 16, meaning the waiting period has extended to about three months in just two days. Although the official release date is scheduled for the 23rd of this month, those reserving now will not receive their devices until next year.
Listings featuring hefty markups are popping up on secondhand marketplaces like Danggeun Market and Joonggonara. For instance, some sellers are offering the 512GB modelβpriced at 3.59 million wonβfor 4.5 million won, a 910,000 won increase. Posts from prospective buyers looking to acquire the device quickly have also appeared, though it remains unverified whether actual transactions have been successfully completed at the prices suggested by sellers.
Apple stated that initial demand is exceeding expectations. According to the Financial Times, Apple explained that pre-order demand for the iPhone Duo, the company’s first foldable model, is at an unprecedented level, adding that they are working diligently to deliver the device to customers promptly.
Limited initial supply may have also contributed to the delivery delays. Prior to the launch, observers raised concerns that the high manufacturing difficulty of foldable displays and hinges could cause bottlenecks in production yields and product delivery. Citing a report from Chinese economic media outlet Jiemian News, Apple enthusiast site MacRumors.com reported that as of September 17, the final assembly yield for the iPhone Duo was just slightly above 60%.
