Apple Store Offline Ahead of iPhone Duo Pre-Orders Starting Friday
The Apple online store is displaying a hold message before iPhone Duo pre-orders begin at 5 a.m. PT on Friday, October 16.
Key points
- Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo start at 5 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, October 16.
- The device is Apple's first foldable iPhone, starting at $1,999 in the United States.
- Customers in more than 70 countries can pre-order when the store reopens.
The Apple online store is currently offline ahead of the scheduled start for iPhone Duo pre-orders. According to MacRumors, the website displays a message stating that pre-orders begin at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, October 16. This outage prevents customers from accessing the checkout process before the designated start time.
The hold message reads, "We love that early energy," and informs visitors that the store is almost ready. Apple has maintained this 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time start window for several years. This schedule replaces the previous 12:01 a.m. start time that the company used in earlier product launches.
Context and Background
The iPhone Duo represents Apple’s first foldable iPhone, marking a significant shift in the company's hardware lineup. The device is available in two colors: Star White and Night Sky. Customers can choose from four storage capacities: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. In the United States, the starting price for the device is $1,999.
Apple established a 9 p.m. PT cutoff for completing pre-order selections on Thursday. This deadline ensures faster checkout processing when sales officially open on Friday, as Threat Times reported on October 16. The company aims to streamline the initial burst of demand through this preparatory step.
Who Is Affected
Customers in more than 70 countries and regions will be able to pre-order the iPhone Duo when the store comes back online. This group includes Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, the UAE, the UK, and the U.S. Availability will expand to 28 additional countries and regions on Friday, October 30.
Physical deliveries to customers and in-store availability begin on Friday, October 23. As Threat Times reported on October 16, T-Mobile is charging a monthly premium for a new Handoff feature that allows a single phone number to remain active on two devices. This service adds an extra cost for users adopting the new device.
What should you do?
Users interested in the iPhone Duo should wait until the store reopens at 5:00 a.m. PT on Friday. Ensure that payment methods and shipping addresses are updated in your Apple account before the pre-order window opens. Monitor the Apple website for any changes to availability or delivery estimates.
What to do and how to stay safe: Apple
- Verify that your Apple ID account has current shipping and billing information before the pre-order window opens.
- Check the Apple website directly at 5:00 a.m. PT on Friday to avoid third-party delays or misinformation.
- Review carrier-specific fees, such as T-Mobile’s premium for the Handoff feature, if you plan to use dual-device capabilities.
- Monitor official Apple communications for any updates on delivery dates or expanded regional availability.
Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security: How to Protect Data Beyond Passwords
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
When do iPhone Duo pre-orders begin?
Pre-orders begin at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, October 16, according to MacRumors.
How much does the iPhone Duo cost in the U.S.?
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the United States, with storage options ranging from 256GB to 2TB.
Which countries can pre-order the iPhone Duo initially?
Customers in more than 70 countries, including the U.S., UK, Canada, and China, can pre-order when the store reopens.
