Apple's highly anticipated foldable iPhone Duo generated significant consumer enthusiasm on its launch day, leading to overnight queues and swift sell-outs at numerous retail locations across the United States. Fans camped out for hours, with some arriving the day before the official launch.
At the Apple Fifth Avenue store in New York City, a substantial crowd had already gathered by 4:15 a.m., with videos circulating online showing a "massive queue" of customers waiting for the store's 8 a.m. opening. By mid-morning, however, reports emerged that the store had exhausted its walk-in inventory, with remaining customers in line holding confirmed pickup orders.
Similar scenes unfolded at other Apple stores. At the World Trade Center location, hundreds were reportedly in line before the store opened, though concerns were raised about scalpers purchasing multiple devices. Social media posts from the Upper East Side store indicated it had also sold out of walk-in units early.
Inventory and crowd sizes varied across different locations. In Downtown Brooklyn, an earlier estimate of around 50 people in line was followed by reports that the store had received stock by 9:18 a.m., with only the blue color option available.
The demand highlights Apple's warning that walk-in quantities would be limited on launch day, a scarcity that appeared to fuel the frenzy further. In Chicago, one customer who arrived 45 minutes before opening was able to secure a 512GB "Night Sky" model. Similarly, a customer in Dallas reported that arriving 30 minutes prior to opening was sufficient to obtain their desired configuration. However, another shopper in Dallas waited 11 hours for a white 512GB iPhone Duo.
In contrast, other areas experienced rapid sell-outs. Ardmore, Pennsylvania, reported the store was sold out by 7:30 a.m., with nearby King of Prussia and Willow Grove Park locations also running out of stock shortly after opening.
Across the country, experiences varied. In Denver, mall security reportedly prevented early queuing until 7 a.m. at one location, prompting some customers to relocate. In Las Vegas, the line at the Town Square store grew from an estimated 30-40 people in the early morning to over 150 later on. In Boise, Idaho, a shopper arriving at 4:45 a.m. secured a Duo, but the store later sold out, turning away subsequent customers.
Los Angeles also saw mixed results, with one store at Manhattan Village reporting that all approximately 50 people in line received a phone, while the Century City location had already sold out.
The launch day underscores the strong consumer demand for Apple's new foldable device, with availability proving to be a significant challenge for many eager buyers.