iPhone Duo: a nearly three-month wait, a memo to stores about the cracks, and no date for enough stock

The iPhone Duo hit stores on October 23 and, eleven days later, it’s still the hardest iPhone to get. Three stories this week sum it up well: the average wait is now close to three months, Apple admits it doesn’t know when there will be enough stock, and, on top of that, it has had to send its stores instructions about the cracked displays. Here’s where we are.

How long you have to wait for an iPhone Duo

According to UBS data as of October 30, which tracks iPhone availability in more than 30 markets, the average wait time for the iPhone Duo is 89 days. That’s a week shorter than the week before, but it’s still almost an entire quarter. For comparison: the iPhone 18 Pro is at about five days and the 18 Pro Max at about 18.

UBS doesn’t think the cracks are the main reason the wait has dropped slightly, although the data alone can’t tell whether it’s because of lower demand or because more units are arriving. In the US, if you order online today, delivery is estimated for late January.

Model	Average wait (UBS, Oct. 30, 2026)
iPhone Duo	89 days
iPhone 18 Pro Max	~18 days
iPhone 18 Pro	~5 days

Apple: “We can’t predict when supply and demand will balance”

John Ternus himself confirmed it to Reuters after presenting Apple’s results: iPhone Duo supply is constrained, production is “going well,” but Apple can’t say when there will be enough units for everyone. Note that the results presented on Monday don’t include a single Duo sale yet, because the quarter ended in late September.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman adds context, and here it’s worth separating the fact from his interpretation. According to him, Apple originally planned to wait until November and launch it only in the US and China; in the end, it moved the date up and put it on sale in more than 70 countries at once. His read is that Apple rushed it out without enough inventory. Also, according to his data, about 80% of the first units went to Apple Stores, some of which got only 50 units.

The cracks: Apple sends instructions to its stores

The other half of the story is the cracks in the inner display near the hinge. What’s new is that Apple has sent an internal memo to Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers with instructions: if a customer comes in with the problem, they should inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it following their usual procedures.

• What Apple says: it affects “a small number” of units, most aren’t prone to the issue, and the ones that are show it early.
• What there isn’t: a recall or a public repair program on its website. Apple hasn’t explained the cause either.
• What Ternus said: “a very small percentage” of units have been returned, and Apple is offering replacements.

The fact that Apple bothered to send an internal memo suggests the problem is common enough to need a protocol, although we don’t know how many units are affected. And, interestingly, the cracks don’t appear in the survey Apple is sending to iPhone Duo buyers.

Samsung takes the chance to poke fun

Samsung didn’t let the moment pass. Its Canadian Instagram account posted a campaign with images showing a bright line right where the Duos are cracking, with messages along the lines of “folding is nothing new to us” and an invitation to switch to the Galaxy Z Fold8. The company calls it a “tongue-in-cheek” campaign. There’s some irony there: Samsung has been selling foldables since 2019, and its first Galaxy Fold also had display problems in its early units.

If you want one in the US: what to do

In the US, the iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 (256GB). For that kind of money, here’s my advice:

1. Check the actual date on Apple’s website before you order. The 89-day figure is an average across many countries, not the specific wait where you live.
2. Try in-store pickup: since most units go to Apple Stores, that’s where you have the best chance of finding one.
3. Inspect it thoroughly in the first few days. According to Apple, units with the defect show it early, so open and close it normally and keep an eye on the crease area while you’re still within the 14-day return window.
4. If a crack appears, go straight to Apple. You’re covered by Apple’s one-year limited warranty, and by AppleCare+ if you bought it.

My take

The iPhone Duo is a hit in terms of demand and, at the same time, a rushed launch. A wait of more than two and a half months and a protocol for the cracks fit with what Gurman reports: the date was moved up and a product Apple didn’t have enough of was rolled out to 70 countries. For people who have one, Apple’s response has been right: a replacement, no questions asked. For people thinking about it, I wouldn’t rush. Paying $2,000 for a first-generation model that will take months to arrive makes more sense once Apple clarifies whether new units fix the problem. If you’ve already reserved one, don’t cancel because of the cracks, but check it carefully as soon as it arrives.

Did you get one, or are you still waiting? Tell me in the comments or on social media.

Sources: MacRumors (wait times, UBS data), MacRumors (Ternus’s comments), MacRumors (Mark Gurman), MacRumors (memo to stores), MacRumors (Samsung campaign), Apple. Data as of November 3, 2026.