Apple’s first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, opened for pre-order in Canada on October 16 with its advertised launch date of October 23 still intact, even as reports indicate delivery estimates for new online orders have stretched well into early 2027.
Apple’s Canadian product pages continued to list October 23 availability when checked on October 17, according to NetNewsLedger. However, Canadian technology outlets found far longer waits for new purchases. MobileSyrup reported on October 16 that Apple Canada’s website showed delivery estimates of January 26, 2027, across all colours and storage options, while iPhone in Canada reported finding February 2027 estimates across the device’s four storage configurations.
NetNewsLedger noted that these are reported snapshots rather than guaranteed delivery dates for every buyer, and they do not confirm that all previously placed Canadian orders have been pushed into next year. The outlet distinguished between Apple’s confirmed launch date, which marks when availability begins, and the separate question of when any individual new order will actually arrive.
Pricing and Specifications
In Canada, the iPhone Duo starts at $2,999, according to Apple’s ordering page. The device features a folding inner display, a secondary outer display for use when closed, Apple’s A20 Pro chip, and two 48-megapixel rear cameras. Apple’s October 15 update also highlighted split-screen multitasking and an under-display FaceTime camera as features of the device.
In the United Kingdom, the iPhone Duo is listed for pre-order starting at £1,999 for the 256GB model, with a 7.6-inch main folding display and a 5.4-inch cover screen, according to GSMArena. The outlet reported that UK pre-order stock sold out quickly in most regions, with delivery estimates there also slipping to late January.
Questions Over Supply and Demand
The reasons behind the delivery backlog remain unclear. NetNewsLedger reported that China’s Jiemian News, citing a person close to Foxconn’s supply chain, said final assembly yields were slightly above 60 per cent as of information obtained September 17, with production processes still being adjusted. That source suggested it could take another six months to a year to reach mature yields under Apple’s quality standards, and Jiemian also reported earlier difficulties involving folding OLED panels and hinge components.
Separately, China’s Securities Times reported on October 10 that Apple had increased iPhone Duo orders by 30 per cent, though the total remained below 10 million units, attributing the figures to supply-chain sources. NetNewsLedger cautioned that an increase in orders does not confirm additional phones have been manufactured, inspected or shipped, and that Apple has not verified these figures.
On the demand side, the Financial Times reported on October 16 that Apple described demand for the Duo as “nothing short of extraordinary,” and said it was working to get the device into customers’ hands. NetNewsLedger noted that Apple’s demand statement and the supply-chain production reports address different sides of the picture, and that available evidence does not establish how much each factor contributes to the delivery backlog.
Foldable Market Ripple Effects
The Duo’s debut has also been linked to shifting consumer interest elsewhere in the foldable phone market. Forbes reported a 300 per cent spike in searches for Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 following the iPhone Duo’s debut. Separately, GSMArena reported that Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold8 received price cuts, with the 512GB Ultra discounted by £560 and the 512GB Z Fold8 cut by £370, as retailers also marked down Samsung’s Galaxy S26 lineup and Google’s Pixel 11 series.
Apple originally announced the iPhone Duo last month alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with pre-orders opening in more than 70 countries and regions, including Canada. Sales were set to begin October 23 in those markets, with an additional 28 countries to follow on October 30.
For Canadian buyers, NetNewsLedger advised that the delivery estimate attached to an individual order is the key practical detail to confirm, noting that availability through one retailer should not be assumed to match another, and that anyone relying on the device arriving by a certain date should verify timing directly before purchasing.
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