Abstract:
Apple's first foldable screen phone iPhone Duo officially opened for pre-order on October 16, local time, marking the final stage before launch of this much-anticipated new product. Apple's online store has resumed operation, and users can place orders through Apple's official website or Apple Store app. However, as pre-order demand gradually increases, the delivery time of some popular configurations is expected to be delayed.
Apple continues to use the queuing purchase mechanism this time. After entering the online store, users need to wait for the system's turn before they can access the official order page. Apple will not open the ordering entrance immediately when all users visit the store. Therefore, consumers in different regions and who visit the store through different channels may be eligible to purchase at different times.
Before pre-orders officially begin, Apple has opened the pre-configuration function. Consumers can choose the color, storage capacity and payment method of the phone in advance to complete the order faster after pre-orders are launched. For users who hope to get the new phone on the launch day, completing these preparations in advance may help shorten the order process.
This pre-order will start at 5 a.m. Pacific Time and 8 a.m. Eastern Time on October 16th. Since Apple's global content distribution system needs to gradually resume operation in data centers in different regions, there may be differences in access to the official website and Apple Store applications. If users are temporarily unable to enter the store, they can try switching between the official website and the Apple Store application.
In terms of price, the 256GB version of iPhone Duo starts at US$1,999, while the 2TB version with the highest storage capacity is priced at US$3,199. The above prices do not deduct discounts for old equipment or operator promotions. The price gap between different storage capacities also means that consumers need to weigh the purchase cost based on actual usage needs.
iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable screen iPhone. Unlike the traditional straight iPhone, this device can expand the body to obtain a larger display area. Apple said that the expanded screen area is approximately 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, giving it a larger display space when browsing the web, reading documents, watching videos, and handling multitasking.
Apple plans to officially launch iPhone Duo on October 23. As the first batch of pre-orders are processed, availability of popular colors, storage capacities, and configurations may change, and some consumers may not receive their devices on the first day of availability.
The launch of iPhone Duo also means that Apple officially enters the folding screen smartphone market. Previously, Samsung and other manufacturers have continued to deploy in this market. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series and other folding screen devices have accumulated multiple generations of product experience. Apple needs to attract consumers to accept this new iPhone form through its own hardware design, operating system adaptation and application ecosystem.
For Apple, iPhone Duo is not only a phone with a larger screen, but will also test how the iOS system adapts to foldable devices. A larger internal screen can provide additional display space for applications, but to take full advantage of this, applications also need to adapt to the expanded and collapsed states and maintain a reasonable layout and operating experience when switching screens.
At present, Apple has entered the pre-order stage, and consumers will soon be able to test the folding design, software experience and daily convenience of this device through actual use. However, the starting price of US$1,999 and the top-end price of US$3,199 also make iPhone Duo one of the more expensive devices in Apple’s product line. Whether it can gain widespread acceptance in the already highly competitive folding screen market will depend on consumers' comprehensive evaluation of its design, functionality and price.
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