Apple's foldable iPhone hits stores with US$2,000 price tag and scarce supply

Apple's first folding iPhone, the iPhone Duo, began circulating in stores worldwide on October 23 at a price of approximately US$2,000. The launch was marked by limited availability, with queues forming outside Apple stores in Sydney, New York, and other cities, though pre-orders were capped at two devices per customer and sales were open only to walk-in shoppers.

The phone's limited supply led to early delivery date adjustments within minutes of pre-orders opening, with Apple calling the response "nothing short of extraordinary."

CEO John Ternus, who took over the company in September, greeted customers at a store in Austin, Texas, emphasizing the launch's extraordinary demand. In China, France, Hong Kong, India, and Japan, the Duo was available exclusively to online pre-order customers. Many buyers, such as Simon Krishnan, a 48-year-old engineer, justified the high price by emphasizing the novelty and potential benefits of the foldable design.

While early reviews have praised the phone's design and hinge mechanism, reviewers have noted camera limitations, app compatibility issues, and the Duo's reduced functionality for everyday tasks. Despite these criticisms, the phone's design has been seen as a significant improvement over previous foldable phones, and market analysts predict Apple could become the dominant player in the foldable market within the next few years.