Apple has told customers in Japan and South Korea that, for a limited time, the iPhone Duo will be handed out only to people who hold a pickup reservation, according to MacRumors. The notices appear on Apple's localized websites for the two countries.
The restriction also covers the iPhone 18 Pro Max. In practice, anyone hoping to simply walk into an Apple Store in Japan or South Korea on launch day and leave with a new phone will be turned away unless they reserved a unit for pickup in advance.
What the notices say
The iPhone Duo goes on sale Friday, October 23, with pre-orders having opened on October 16. MacRumors reports that walk-in sales are not expected to be available at launch in the two markets. Apple has not said how long the reservation-only arrangement will last.
MacRumors suggests two likely explanations: tight supply and the anti-scalping measures Apple has often used in Asian markets. Apple itself has not given a reason in the notices described by the outlet.
Rest of the world still unclear
It is not yet known whether the same approach will be applied elsewhere. The iPhone Duo should be on display in Apple Stores worldwide from October 23, but whether walk-in customers in the United States and other countries will be able to buy one has not been confirmed. Even where walk-ins are allowed, MacRumors expects inventory to be extremely limited at first.
Earlier this week MacRumors also reported that some Apple Store managers had told staff to warn customers against trying to buy a Duo without a reservation on launch day. That guidance was not company-wide, and Apple has not commented on it publicly.
Demand and delivery times
Apple has described demand for the device as "nothing short of extraordinary" and said it is working to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. It has not released sales figures. Shipping estimates for new online orders slid to late January within about half an hour of pre-orders opening on October 16.
Customers who want to collect a phone at a store are being pointed to Apple's online store on Saturday, October 24, where more information on pickup is expected to appear, according to MacRumors.
For now, the practical advice from the reported details is simple: if you want an iPhone Duo on launch day, a pre-order or a pickup reservation is the surest route, and a walk-in attempt is a gamble at best.
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