The Apple store on Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, was the scene this Friday of long lines of shoppers waiting to purchase the iPhone Duo, the company's first foldable smartphone, which went on sale this day in over 70 countries.
The anticipation was so high that some fans started to line up in front of the store as early as Wednesday, two days before the official launch, bringing folding chairs, hammocks, and pets, even in the rain.
Joseph Wiener was one of the earliest arrivals: he got in line on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m., while his friends showed up at 10:00 a.m. that same day. Ricardo Favarego, another shopper, joined the wait at 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
"I arrived the night before last," summarized one of those present in the line, as quoted by Univision.
The store started receiving customers in small groups around 7:30 a.m. on Friday, but Apple warned that the inventory available for those who arrived without a prior reservation would be very limited, so not everyone who waited was able to take home the device.
One of the fortunate ones was Jason, who had been in line since Wednesday and was among the first to show the phone in his hands. Another buyer, identified as Jennings, explained his motivation: "I had been using essentially the same phone for a while and was looking forward to the Duo because it offered something different."
The iPhone Duo hits the market with a starting price of $1,999 for the 256 GB version, and is also available in capacities of 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB, in star white and midnight blue colors.
The device features a 5.4-inch external OLED display and a 7.6-inch foldable internal OLED display, both with ProMotion technology of up to 120 Hz and a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits.
When open, it measures just 5.2 mm thick. It features an IP68 certification, a titanium chassis, and Ceramic Shield protection, as well as the A20 Pro chip, which provides up to 31 hours of video playback with the inner screen.
Apple officially unveiled the Duo on September 9, 2026, and pre-sales began on October 16, selling out within minutes. Some orders were projected to have delivery dates extending to January 2027, and the company limited purchases to two units per customer during that phase.
With this launch, Apple is fully entering a segment that Samsung has dominated since 2019 with its Galaxy Z Fold line, the latest model of which, the Galaxy Z Fold8, is sold in the United States for $1,899.99. Analysts from Counterpoint Research estimate that Apple could capture nearly 28% of the foldable smartphone market following its entry into the category.
In 2025, approximately 20.6 million foldable phones were shipped worldwide, representing only 1.4% of the total smartphone market, but with a sustained growth trajectory that projects a 30% expansion for this year.
A second phase of availability for the iPhone Duo in another 28 countries and regions is scheduled for October 30.
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