capping the number
On October 16, Apple began accepting pre-orders for the iPhone Duo, which is set to launch on October 23. Due to the high demand, the company has implemented a rule limiting each customer to purchasing only two units of the new phone. This cap applies not only to the iPhone Duo but also to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The two-unit limit is not entirely new, as Apple enforced a similar restriction when the original iPhone was launched in 2007 to prevent resellers from taking advantage of the sales. The current restriction has been extended to customers in India, as well as those in the US, China, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Though Apple has not officially stated the reason behind the limit, the timing has drawn attention, given the high demand for the iPhone Duo. Reports suggest that delivery dates for the phone could stretch into January following the pre-order launch. In contrast, Japan and South Korea require buyers to schedule a store pickup in advance, as walk-in purchases will not be available at the launch.
A report by Counterpoint Research had initially predicted that the iPhone Duo would capture around 25% of the global foldable market, placing Apple second to Samsung (38%) and ahead of Huawei (22%). The same report projected that Apple could ship nearly 6 million Duos in 2026, even with a starting price of Rs 3 lakh.
The high anticipation surrounding the debut of the iPhone Duo could explain Apple's decision to enforce a cap on early stock to prevent it from falling into the hands of a limited number of people. Additionally, Apple's entry into the foldable space may contribute to driving sales and consumer adoption within the market.
Written by urgent.news from Rest of World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.