iPhone Duo Launch: Crowds Face Scarce Walk-In Stock

Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, arrived at retail locations across the globe on Friday, October 23. The launch drew large crowds to stores in numerous countries, though availability for walk-in buyers was tight.

In a morning press release, Apple shared photographs from various cities. The company stated that employees provided hands-on demonstrations and tailored shopping assistance to customers who filled the sales floors. Readers of 9to5Mac also posted images from their own local visits.

Senior leaders attended specific flagship sites to mark the occasion. Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, was present at the Fifth Avenue store in New York alongside retail executive Vanessa Trigub. Meanwhile, CEO John Ternus visited the Domain NORTHSIDE store in Austin, Texas, with retail chief Deirdre O'Brien. Ternus had reportedly toured Apple's Austin offices earlier in the week, a visit coinciding with the city's hosting of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix. Apple serves as the exclusive F1 streamer in the US.

Overnight queues formed outside stores worldwide as people attempted to secure a unit without an online reservation. Apple had previously warned of limited retail inventory, a constraint that materialized on launch day. Store staff told disappointed customers to check the Apple Store app at 10 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday for details on available stock. The company also invited readers to report whether they purchased a device or picked up an online order on launch morning.