Apple's first foldable phone has turned out to be the hardest iPhone to get in years. The iPhone Duo, which starts at Rs 2,99,900 in India, sold out its first batch of pre-orders soon after bookings opened on Friday, October 16. Buyers placing an order now are being shown delivery dates in late January 2027, more than three months away.
That is a striking result for a phone that costs about Rs 1.35 lakh more than the iPhone 18 Pro and is the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold in India.
What Happened With Pre-Orders
Pre-orders went live globally on October 16, at 5:30 pm IST in India. Within a short time, the first allocation was gone in multiple markets, starting with the US. In India, Flipkart listed the phone as out of stock, and Apple's own store moved fresh orders to January 2027 delivery.
Apple's official in-store availability date is still October 23, but that now effectively applies to buyers who managed to lock in a unit early. Apple has not said how many units were available in the first wave, so it is hard to say how much of the wait is down to demand and how much to limited supply. Apple has also not said when stock in India will catch up.
iPhone Duo Price in India
| Storage variant | Price in India |
|---|---|
| 256GB | Rs 2,99,900 |
| 512GB | Rs 3,24,900 |
| 1TB | Rs 3,74,900 |
| 2TB | Rs 4,49,900 |
For comparison, the base iPhone 18 Pro launched at Rs 1,64,900, which makes the entry-level Duo about Rs 1,35,000 more expensive. In the US, the iPhone Duo starts at $1,999.
Offers and EMI Options
Apple is offering up to Rs 7,000 instant discount with select ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and American Express cards, and trade-in credit of up to Rs 81,500 depending on the old device. EMI plans for the 256GB model start at about Rs 26,574 a month. AppleCare+ for the Duo costs Rs 51,900, a cost worth weighing given the delicate nature of any folding screen.
iPhone Duo Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Design | Book-style foldable |
| Inner display | 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR, nano-texture finish |
| Cover display | 5.4-inch |
| Chip | Apple A20 Pro |
| Rear cameras | 48MP Fusion Main + 48MP Ultra-Wide (with macro) |
| Software | iOS 27 |
| SIM | eSIM only, no physical SIM tray |
| Colours | Night Sky, Star White |
The nano-texture finish on the inner screen is meant to cut reflections and make the fold crease less visible, one of the most common complaints with foldables. The eSIM-only design will matter to Indian buyers: Jio, Airtel and Vi all support eSIM, but users will need to convert their existing SIM before switching.
What It Means for Indian Buyers
Foldables have been on sale in India for several years, mostly from Samsung, Google and Chinese brands. Apple's arrival lends the category a new level of attention, and the sell-out suggests there is a sizeable group of premium buyers willing to pay almost Rs 3 lakh for a phone.
If you are planning to buy one, a few practical points:
- Check the delivery date shown at checkout before you pay, as it may already be in 2027.
- Compare bank offers and trade-in values across Apple's store and authorised resellers.
- Factor in AppleCare+ or other screen protection, since folding displays are costly to repair.
- Make sure your carrier supports eSIM transfer for your number.
What Happens Next
The phone is due in Apple stores from October 23, though walk-in stock is likely to be very limited. Over the coming weeks, the focus will be on how quickly Apple can ramp up production and whether delivery timelines start to shorten before the holiday season ends.
The sell-out also puts pressure on rivals. Samsung, which has dominated the premium foldable segment in India for years, now faces direct competition from one of the strongest brands in India's premium smartphone market. Industry watchers will be tracking whether Apple's entry lifts demand for foldables in general, or simply pulls buyers away from Android models, as festive-season sales continue through Diwali.
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