Full Breakdown
iPhone Duo Launch Triggers Massive Queues and Sky-High Resale Prices
By Drooid · · How we work
Launch Day Demand and Resale Frenzy
On Friday, October 23 the iPhone Duo—Apple’s first foldable phone—went on sale online and in-store. Lines formed before dawn at the Fifth Avenue flagship in New York, with a “massive queue” reported as early as 4:15 a.m. By 10 a.m. walk-in customers were turned away, and pre-orders filled the remaining demand. A similar surge occurred at Apple’s World Trade Center store, where 200 people were already in line by 6 a.m. The rapid sell-out spurred a secondary market: eBay and Craigslist listings posted the 2 TB Night Sky model for $8,000–$10,000, more than three times the $3,199 retail price. One New York reseller advertised a 1 TB Star White model at $5,200, and a separate listing offered a 2 TB unit for $7,999.
Device Specs, Pricing and Initial Sell-Out
The iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch inner screen—about 80 % larger than the iPhone 18 Pro when unfolded—and a 5.4-inch outer display. Despite the dual screens, the titanium chassis weighs just over half a pound and folds to a 3-inch thickness. Pre-orders opened on October 16, and the device sold out within minutes, prompting Apple to postpone delivery for late buyers until January 2027.
Market Context and Analyst Outlook
China, the world’s largest foldable market according to Counterpoint Research, showed strong early interest. In Beijing’s Sanlitun district, scalper Alex Wang offered customers an extra 3,000 CNY (? $448) to purchase phones on the spot, citing “tight supply.” Apple fan Mary Tong, who arrived at 6 a.m. among roughly 100 line-waiters, noted that Apple has traditionally lagged in foldable adoption but that Chinese consumers appear eager for the form factor. Industry analysts have suggested the Duo could help move foldable phones into the mainstream, echoing Apple’s past influence on smartwatches and wireless earbuds.
On-the-Ground Reports from New York and Beijing
Witnesses at the New York Fifth Avenue store described a “mad dash” with customers camping out for two cold days. In Beijing, scalper Wang told CNBC he believed the Duo could command a higher price for at least half a month, while Tong expressed confidence that many Chinese prefer foldable phones despite Apple’s previous lag.
These observations illustrate how limited supply, high consumer enthusiasm, and the novelty of Apple’s first foldable device combined to generate unprecedented queues and a booming resale market on launch day.