Apple’s first foldable iPhone had a global average preorder lead time of about 14 weeks on Oct. 16, according to a Morgan Stanley estimate reported by CNBC and GMT Eight. It was the highest average in Morgan Stanley’s 10-year record of monitoring iPhone models.
At 8:30 a.m. ET on Oct. 16, 9to5Mac reported that Apple’s U.S. store showed Jan. 25, 2027, as the estimated ship date for every color and storage capacity it checked. EconoTimes previously covered the U.S. store’s January estimates for each iPhone Duo configuration.
CNBC reported that a separate check on Oct. 19 showed a Jan. 25, 2027, delivery estimate for a Night Sky iPhone Duo with 512GB. That check covered one configuration and used a delivery estimate, while the earlier report covered shipping dates across the configurations checked. Neither estimate guarantees arrival on Jan. 25.
Morgan Stanley attributed the long lead time to customer demand and limited initial supply. Apple has not published how many Duo units shoppers preordered or how many devices it set aside for launch. Store estimates therefore do not show how much of the delay reflects orders versus available inventory.
Apple said the Duo starts at $1,999 in the United States and is scheduled to go on sale Oct. 23 in more than 70 countries and regions, followed by 28 more on Oct. 30. The company introduced the phone Sept. 9 as its first foldable iPhone.
CNBC reported that Melius Research projected at least 15 million Duo units and about $40 billion in Duo revenue for Apple’s fiscal 2027, with at least half of the revenue incremental. Those are Melius estimates, not Apple guidance.
Apple reported $54.252 billion in iPhone sales in its fiscal third quarter, ended June 27, compared with $44.582 billion a year earlier. Its fiscal 2026 fourth quarter ended before the Duo’s scheduled release, so that quarter’s results cannot include retail sales of the phone. Apple has scheduled its results call for Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. ET; management’s comments may give investors a later indication of demand and supply.
