Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo are live, but shipping is scheduled for 2027

Pre-orders are open for Apple's all-new foldable iPhone Duo, but it's slated to ship by 2027.

If you're planning to pre-order the iPhone Duo, you'll want to do so as soon as possible. The official release date is October 23rd and pre-orders started this morning. However, unless you've already locked in your order, you'll have to wait several months to get your hands on Apple's first foldable phone (unless you're willing to shell out nearly $5,000 on eBay). Even if you pre-order now, at the time of writing, you won't receive your iPhone Duo until late January 2027.

The iPhone Duo represents the most drastic change Apple has ever made in its smartphone lineup. It is basically shaped like a passport and consists of two very thin sheets. When folded, it has a 5.4-inch front screen that you can use to access anything on your phone. But if you open it — which starts a pretty cool animation — the device transforms into a 7.6-inch widescreen, essentially the size of an iPad mini. really great

Apple has also adapted the iOS software for the new form factor. Instead of the dock being the bottom row of icons like a standard iPhone, the dock is moved to a vertical column on the right side of the screen. This makes them easier to reach with the wide form factor (for right-handed people anyway). You can also use apps in full screen mode or use two apps side by side. Basically, whichever way you fold or unfold the device, iOS adapts.

The internal display uses wide-angle OLED displays and has a maximum brightness of 3000 nits. It also has a "nano texture display" that Chapple says helps minimize the appearance of any wrinkles. This large and ultra-portable screen may make the iPhone Duo a great gaming device.

Are you interested in the foldable iPhone Duo?

Despite Apple's apparent difficulty in meeting customer demand for the device, this technology certainly isn't cheap. If you end up dropping at least $1,999.99 for one of those, you'll almost certainly want to pick up an iPhone Duo case to protect it from damage. You should also consider signing up for AppleCare to insure it against theft and accidents, as repairs can cost $1,499.99.

Chris Reid is IGN's senior business editor and deal expert. He also runs IGN's LEGO coverage and maintains articles on upcoming release dates for video games, LEGO sets, and 4K Blu-rays. You can follow him on Bluesky.