Apple’s iPhone Duo preorder program has turned into an absolute disaster and Apple knew this was going to happen because they did not enough components to build out a viable stock pile according to insiders.

They claim that the situation suited Apple because it allowed them to sell out early models of their foldable at a high $3499 sticker price, with availability already pushed into the first quarter of 2027.

Apple is now punting on iOS fans moving to the iPhone 18 Pro.

All it took was a matter of minutes before the sold out sign went up despite most models showing an early-November delivery, after the official Oct. 23 launch.

Customers who missed out could now be forced to wait months to get a new iPhone Duo despite the superior Samsung Fold 8 competitor still be on sale at JB Hi Fi.

ChannelNews understands that both Samsung and Apple are both facing serious component shortages for their foldable models due to surging demand.

Bloomberg writer Mark Gurman claims “Apple made a major mistake here. The company knew there would be severe supply constraints but went ahead with the launch anyway, apparently prioritizing a desire to get the device on the market early in its fiscal first quarter over satisfying demand. That will disappoint many of the early adopters most eager to buy it. Worse, Apple hasn’t provided any clarity on how much inventory, if any, will be available in stores on launch day for customers without preorders”.

He points out that the Companies previous CEO Tim Cook was a master of supply chain management with new CEO John Ternus appearing to be more interested in launching several new Apple products despite the rising cost of memory and component shortages.

Apple had originally planned to launch the Duo in the US and China only but this went out the door with the appointment of Ternus claim insiders.

Instead, Apple management went with more than 70 countries including Australia from the start.

Bloomberg questioned Why Apple opted for a global launch despite knowing about the production constraints is unclear, but it looks like a serious miscalculation.

Now Apple appears to be punting on growing sales of their expensive iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.

Some customers will visit stores looking for a Duo, find it unavailable and buy a Pro model instead. Others will come to check out the foldable design and marketing hype before choosing a traditional Pro at roughly half the price. In either case, Apple hopes the customer leaves with a new iPhone.

In other moves it appears that Apple’s new CEO is looking to redesign Apple stores with a makeover at some stores to coincide with the launch of their first touch-screen MacBooks, an M6 iMac, M6 14-inch MacBook Pro and OLED iPad mini computer.

Apple executives are hosting a dinner with influencers (promising business class travel and hotel rooms) on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 27, and then holding an all-day event experience on that Wednesday to show off the products.