Apple Launches Foldable iPhone Duo Globally with Lines in Seoul, Sydney, and London
Apples first foldable smartphone, iPhone Duo, officially goes on sale across 70 countries, drawing long queues as IDC projects 44% category value capture.
Sales of Apples first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, officially commenced on Friday, October 23, 2026, across more than 70 countries. With overnight queues outside flagship stores in Sydney, Seoul, and London, delivery wait times have stretched into late January 2027 as market research firm IDC projects Apple will capture 44% of global foldable revenue this year.
Global Retail Availability and Overnight Queues Across Flagship Stores
On October 23, 2026, Apple officially commenced in-store sales of its first folding smartphone, the iPhone Duo, across more than 70 countries worldwide. Sydney served as the first global retail location to open its doors at 8:00 a.m. local time, followed by massive pre-order collection lines at Apple Store Myeongdong in Seoul—where the base device retails for 3.29 million won—and across London, Tokyo, and New York. Because initial production runs were heavily constrained, walk-in availability remained strictly limited or reservation-only across major markets, pushing estimated online delivery dates into late January 2027.
Hardware Engineering, Creaseless Hinge, and Early Critical Reviews
Early hands-on reviews from tech analysts and commentators, including MKBHD and John Gruber, praised the iPhone Duos passport-style aspect ratio, durable grade 5 titanium enclosure, and refined hinge architecture that minimizes the visible screen crease that has long troubled competing foldables. While reviewers highlighted the lack of a telephoto lens and third-party app scaling as initial compromises, the devices build quality, dual-display multitasking, and on-device intelligence were hailed as a transformative milestone for commercial foldable hardware.
Market Impact and Foldable Category Projections
Market research firm IDC projects that Apples entry will fundamentally expand the foldable smartphone sector, forecasting Apple will capture 44 percent of global foldable market value in 2026 on 31 percent unit share. By 2027, IDC expects Apple to become the undisputed market leader in both shipment volume and revenue in the category. The successful global rollout serves as a pivotal hardware debut for Apple CEO John Ternus, proving that premium foldable form factors can generate broad mainstream consumer excitement.