Apple iPhone Duo Lead Times Reach 82 Days Ahead of Launch as Demand Surges

Apple Inc. (AAPL) is seeing strong initial demand for its upcoming foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, with global average ship times reaching 82 days prior to its official release date on October 23. Inventory for launch day is sold out worldwide, with no in-store availability expected when the device hits the market. Lead times for the new foldable handset stretch 50 days through U.S. wireless carriers and 102 days on the official online store, with some delivery estimates pushing into 2027.

The robust interest in the foldable form factor comes as delivery times for standard models, including the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, have begun to normalize, declining by six days and three days respectively. A Bank of America Securities analyst maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a $370 price target, noting that the new product lineup and capital return programs position the tech giant well to expand its artificial intelligence capabilities on consumer devices.

Investors will monitor how quickly production scales to fulfill backordered demand following the official launch. Shares of the company traded slightly lower at $341.60, remaining near recent record highs after advancing more than 26% year-to-date.