On October 23, Apple began official sales of its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, priced from $2,000 to $3,199. Due to high demand, delivery times for new online orders worldwide have been pushed back to the end of January.
On October 23, Apple began official sales of its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, priced from $2,000 to $3,199. Due to high demand, delivery times for new online orders worldwide have been pushed back to the end of January.
This is reported by Reuters and Bloomberg .
Due to high demand and limited production volumes , Apple has limited pre-orders to two devices per customer, and in many countries (China, France, India, Japan) first-day sales are by appointment only.
The main difference between the new product and its competitors in the foldable smartphone niche (Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi) is the improved hinge and display technology, thanks to which the screen bend remains almost invisible. At the same time, early reviewers note technical compromises: the lack of a telephoto lens, less convenient operation with the external screen when folded, and the need to optimize third-party software for the new format.
Well-known tech blogger Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) noted that the device will not be suitable for everyone:
"If you’re a regular person who mostly just texts, uses social media, and occasionally browses the web, then this probably won’t be for you. But if $2,000 isn’t a big deal to you and you like the idea, then after a period of learning and getting used to the lack of Face ID, this is a really interesting phone."
Columnist John Gruber of Daring Fireball compared the device to a perfect prototype rather than a fully-fledged mass-produced product, while buyers in line noted the lack of frills and the technological leap.
"This is the first real innovation from Apple in years. It’s expensive. But I’ve tried it out, played with it in the store. It’s incredible that there’s not a single crease on it," said Peter Ingram, a London-based CTO.
Pre-orders have also started in Ukraine: according to Hotline, the price of the new product at retailers ranges from UAH 140,000 for the basic version to UAH 300,000 for the top model.
For Ukrainian buyers, 8 configurations (256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB) are available in two colors — white (Star White) and dark blue (Night Sky). The first orders in Ukraine are expected at the end of October.
