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Are you queueing up for the iPhone Duo?
Photo: Apple

Some Apple fans started camping out days in advance of the iPhone Duo’s release, hoping to be get their hands on the first foldable iPhone.

However, with Apple confirming extremely limited stock for walk-in customers, even camping out days ahead of launch might not guarantee them an iPhone Duo when the foldable hits stores Friday.

The iPhone Duo line starts days early

There’s a long history of Apple fans lining up outside Apple Stores ahead of a new iPhone launch, typically a few hours before sales begin or the night before. In the iPhone’s early days, things got out of hand, with massive queues around the world.

However, in recent years, the ease of online orders/delivery — and perhaps a general cooling of excitement about the latest, greatest iPhone — has reduced the phenomon. (Apple even discourages the practice.) However, the arrival of the iPhone Duo seems to have reignited the frenzy.

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The queue for iPhone Duo walk-in purchases at Apple’s Fifth Avenue store in New York started forming Wednesday, according to a post on X from Lexus C. That’s roughly 39 hours before the foldable goes on sale Friday.

(reported by @JurgenMeco and @ mgcf1) As we approach the 30-hour countdown, the walk-in line for iPhone Duo at Apple Fifth Ave currently has around 5-6 people waiting. And the staff has been working on the giant iPhone Duo models at the storefront! https://t.co/AoMDraTjjl

— Lexus C.  ᯅ (@LChenlz) October 22, 2026

The early queues aren’t limited to the United States. Lexus also shared footage of a crowd outside Apple Galaxy Macau, saying people had gathered roughly 48 hours before launch.

As we approach iPhone Duo launch day, people around the world have started lining up outside Apple Stores! This is Apple Galaxy Macau. We’re still 48 hours from launch time, but there’s already a huge crowd. https://t.co/EcWA7ZB9iy

— Lexus C.  ᯅ (@LChenlz) October 22, 2026

In Sydney, one Apple fan — Jeremy Cabral — got an even earlier start. He arrived outside the Apple Store at 5 p.m. Monday, hoping to become the first person to buy the foldable. He’s also using the wait to offer free business advice and raise money for homelessness, according to his LinkedIn post.

The queues will likely grow as the iPhone Duo’s launch approaches, especially in the final hours before stores open Friday morning.

A sleeping bag won’t guarantee an iPhone

With Apple having limited iPhone Duo stock for walk-in customers on launch day, camping out days ahead of launch might not guarantee anyone a phone. Unless you’re the first person in line.

iPhone Duo delivery estimates slipped to January 2027 within 30 minutes of preorders going live last week. That suggests strong demand for the foldable iPhone despite its high price tag. However, production challenges are also contributing to the long wait, leaving fewer units available at launch.