Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, was released on the 23rd (local time), but supply has already fallen short of demand.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Reuters reported that as sales of Apple's new smartphone began, long lines formed at stores worldwide—including Singapore, Shanghai, London, and San Francisco—leading to immediate shortages.

Apple Stores in the United States were allocated between 50 and 200 units of the iPhone Duo per store, but they sold out instantly.

Outside the Apple Store in Union Square, San Francisco, a line of people hoping to buy the iPhone Duo began forming from 6:30 p.m. the previous day, while at a store in Los Angeles, sales were cut off for anyone who lined up after 6:30 a.m.

At the Apple Store in Lawrence Township, New Jersey, the 256GB and 512GB models of the iPhone Duo sold out within just 30 minutes of opening.

According to data provider Navi, the average delivery delay for the iPhone Duo in the United States through the Apple Online Store was calculated at 92 days.

This is something that was not seen during the sales of recent Apple models such as the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 17 and 16 series, leading the WSJ to point out that Apple has yet to properly prepare its supply chain for the iPhone Duo.

With a price tag approaching USD 2,000 and the fact that it is a latecomer to the foldable smartphone market, there had been mixed projections over whether the iPhone Duo could succeed.

However, Apple fans went wild over the release of the new iPhone despite the steep price.

Simon Krishnan, an engineer who visited the Apple Store in Sydney, Australia, and purchased a 512GB iPhone Duo, expressed satisfaction, saying, "It's a kind of luxury item for me because it's expensive, but life is short, isn't it?"

Liu Wei from Shanghai, China, who already owns a Xiaomi foldable smartphone, also lined up at the Shanghai store to buy the iPhone Duo.

He added, "Having used Apple products for years, I have trust in the brand. I wanted to try it out on the very first day of release."

As products quickly sold out and long waiting lines formed at every store, resellers are also on the rise.

An anonymous buyer from Hong Kong stated that they purchased a 256GB iPhone Duo for 17,499 Hong Kong dollars (approx. 2.95 million won) through an online pre-sale and plan to resell it with an additional 4,000 Hong Kong dollars tacked on.

It is also pointed out that Apple's new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) John Ternus has effectively passed his first hurdle, and the next step is securing a smooth supply.

Market research firm IDC predicted, "The next test is connecting the enthusiasm (for the iPhone Duo) to a smooth supply of inventory and a sustained new chapter in the smartphone market."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)