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iPhone Duo walk-in purchases might be challenging at launch, per report

Avatar for Michael Burkhardt  | Oct 17 2026 - 3:21 pm PT
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According to a new report from MacRumors, Apple employees are being told to warn customers that iPhone Duo likely won’t be available for purchase on launch day if you didn’t already place a pre-order.

Right now, Apple’s website suggests that you can check back for iPhone Duo availability on October 24th. However, this isn’t a guarantee of any stock actually being available, per MacRumors:

Apple Store employees told MacRumors that they have been advised that there will likely be no ‌iPhone Duo‌ stock available for walk-in purchases on launch day. Staff have been instructed to discourage customers without pre-orders from coming in expecting to buy the device, warning that they will be disappointed.

This isn’t necessarily a surprise, given the fact that Apple stated yesterday that iPhone Duo demand is “extraordinary,” and we’ve long known that there were production constraints that’d lead to limited iPhone Duo supply around launch.

However, this still serves as our first true sign that even if you line up at an Apple Store the night prior to the iPhone Duo launch, you might not actually end up getting a device. Some stores might receive no additional shipments beyond what was already pre-ordered.

As of now, iPhone Duo is sold out through January. If these supply constraints remain, it’ll probably be challenging to buy a device for the foreseeable future. Scalpers have also been charging absurd markups on iPhone Duo orders close to launch day.

If you truly want an iPhone Duo sooner than later, carriers and Best Buy seem to be a decent bet, at least in the US.

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Avatar for Michael Burkhardt Michael Burkhardt

Michael is a 9to5Mac Reporter, leading all of our Apple news coverage on weekends and reviewing the newest Apple products and accessories. He got started in the world of Apple news during the pandemic, and it became a growing hobby. He’s also an indie iOS developer, and started the weekly Indie App Spotlight series, which has covered hundreds of blooming new apps since it launched. In his free time, he enjoys shooting street photography around New York City on his Sony A7RV.

Michael Burkhardt's favorite gear

Anker 25K Compact Battery Bank

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AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)

AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)

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