Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says Apple made a "major mistake" by opening iPhone Duo pre-orders on Friday, October 16, when it already knew the foldable would be badly supply-constrained. His assessment appears in the October 18 edition of his Power On newsletter, as relayed by MacRumors.
According to Gurman, Apple was aware that manufacturing problems would limit how many iPhone Duo units it could build, yet started taking orders anyway. He argues the company prioritized getting the device out early in its fiscal first quarter over matching supply to demand, a choice he expects to leave many eager early adopters disappointed.
A wider launch than first planned
Gurman reports that Apple's original plan was a launch in the United States and China, with other countries following later. Instead, pre-orders opened in more than 70 countries at the same time. Spreading a limited supply across that many markets, he suggests, made the shortage more visible almost immediately.
The effect on delivery estimates was swift. Less than 30 minutes after orders opened, estimated shipping dates in most countries had slipped to around January 25, 2027, according to MacRumors. The site notes that Apple tends to be conservative with its delivery windows, so some buyers could end up receiving a slightly earlier date than the one first shown.
What it means for launch day
The first iPhone Duo units are due to reach customers on October 23. A separate MacRumors report, which is not part of Gurman's commentary, says Apple retail employees were told there will likely be no stock for walk-in customers that day, and that they should steer people without pre-orders away from stores. Cupertino News has covered that report separately.
The scarcity has also spilled into the resale market, where one pre-order was reportedly offered for as much as $5,000 on eBay.
What we know and don't know
Gurman's comments are his own analysis and sourcing, not an Apple statement. Apple has described demand for the iPhone Duo as extraordinary but has not published production figures or commented on the timing of its pre-order launch. Whether the company will add supply sooner than the current January estimates is not known.
For buyers who have not yet ordered, the practical picture is unchanged: checking Apple's online store for updated delivery estimates is likely the most reliable route, since walk-in availability looks limited at launch.
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