Apple's first foldable iPhone quickly developed a months-long online backlog after preorders opened on October 16.
The Financial Times reported that delivery estimates on Apple's website moved from the October 23 launch date to late January 2027 within hours. Apple continued accepting online orders rather than closing preorders.
Apple described demand as “nothing short of extraordinary” and said it was working to get devices to customers as quickly as possible. That statement characterizes the early response, but the long wait does not reveal how much of the backlog comes from demand and how much comes from limited supply.
Apple's first foldable starts at $1,999
Apple opened preorders at 5 a.m. PT on October 16. The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, while the highest-capacity version can reach $3,200, according to the Financial Times.
The device opens to a 7.6-inch inner display and has a 5.4-inch outer display. Apple says it uses the A20 Pro chip and a dual-battery architecture.
Availability outside Apple's store
The late-January estimate applied to orders through Apple's website. The Financial Times said U.S. mobile carriers also pushed back delivery times for new orders.
Apple unveiled the phone in September and originally promised delivery by October 23. The backlog is not a clean measure of demand because the Financial Times also reported that Apple had faced component supply shortages this year, especially for memory chips.
