Want an iPhone Duo before 2027? Don’t preorder from Apple – try this instead

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Shipping estimates for iPhone Duo preorders now show January 25.
• This wait time marks a new record for Apple.
• The delay appears to be caused by limited supply.

Were you looking to be the first on your block to get a new iPhone Duo by preordering one? If you haven’t already done so, you’ll now have to wait a lot longer than you likely anticipated.

Also: Best iPhone: I’ve used every model (including the Duo)

Estimates at Apple’s iPhone Duo preorder page are now showing a ship date of January 25, more than three months from now. So far, those estimates apply to every configuration in terms of color, capacity, and carrier. So you won’t be able to skirt past the delay by ordering a flavor you think might be less popular than others.

Preorders started today at 5am PT/8am ET. But it didn’t take long for the backlog to kick in. By 5:30am PT, Apple’s online store in the US was already showing a shipping delay to January 25 for all configurations, MacRumors reported.

Wait time marks an Apple record

A three-month wait time for a new iPhone marks a record for Apple. In 2016, preorders for the iPhone 7 Plus showed initial delays of around two months, according to MacRumors. In 2017, iPhone X preorders were hit by shipping delays of five to six weeks. And in 2013, buyers who preordered the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max had to wait around a month and a half to get one.

Also: T-Mobile’s iPhone Duo deal gives you $1,000 off when you preorder now

Why this record wait time for the Duo? I asked Apple that question and will update the story with any response I receive. In the meantime, initial demand may be heavier than Apple expected. But the primary factor appears to be limited supply, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

Lance Whitney/ZDNET

In his latest Power On newsletter (subscription required), Gurman pointed to “extraordinary supply chain constraints” for the Duo, with the situation worse that Apple had projected earlier in the year. As little as two months ago, the company thought that it might not even be able to launch the new iPhone until later in November, Gurman added.

As Apple’s first foldable, the Duo is more challenging to build than your typical iPhone. Reports have surfaced that some of the trickier components bumped into heavy failure rates during the manufacturing process. That snafu has restricted how many Duos can make it to the end of the production line.

Also: I found the iPhone 18 Pro’s best camera feature

“Fortunately for those lusting after the foldable phone, Apple has managed to pull together enough inventory to make a release this month at least palatable,” Gurman said. “Still, inventory will be limited. So plan ahead.”

Apple’s not your only preorder option

For those who didn’t plan ahead and weren’t first on Apple’s preorder line, what can you do? Well, Apple isn’t your only option. You can preorder the phone through your carrier.

AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are all offering preorders for the Duo, and their respective pages indicate shorter wait times than Apple reports. The estimates vary by color and configuration.

AT&T shows a ship date of November 9 or December 1. With Verizon, you’re promised the phone anywhere between November 6 and December 4. And T-Mobile customers are looking at shipping estimates from October 23 to November 3.

Certain retailers like Best Buy also list preorders for the new phone. Here, the estimate ranges from October 23 to November 3.

Otherwise, Apple typically reserves a limited number of iPhones for in-store purchases, even amid heavy preorders. If you really want an iPhone Duo, you may be able to score one at your local Apple store when the device goes on sale in the US on Friday, October 23.

The same holds true at the stores for your carrier and third-party retailers. But wherever you try to buy it, get there early enough to be at the head of the line and hope the store has the model you want.

Also: The best iPhone Duo cases: Expert recommended

If not, and if you don’t want to wait until 2027 to get a Duo, there’s still the iPhone 18 Pro, which was my phone of choice for this year. You can order one at Apple’s website and receive it by the end of the month, or check your local store for any inventory still in stock.

Lance Whitney is a technology journalist with an IT background. He's written for TechRepublic, PCMag, Macworld, and Time, among others, He also teaches classes in AI, cybersecurity, and social media. See full bio