Apple expected to limit iPhone Duo pre‑orders to two per customer

Apple announced that pre‑orders for its foldable iPhone Duo will be capped at two units per customer, a move aimed at preventing resellers from buying in bulk and flipping the phones at inflated prices. The pre‑order window opened a few days ago, and shipping dates were initially pushed to early next year, but the two‑unit restriction is now active across Apple’s online stores in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan and Spain, and it is likely to apply worldwide.

How the limit works

When a customer tries to add a third iPhone Duo to their cart, Apple’s website displays a warning pop‑up that asks the user to reduce the quantity to two before checkout can proceed. The limit applies to every color and storage configuration, and the warning appears on the same page for all supported regions.

Scalpers have taken advantage of the high demand by listing the iPhone Duo on eBay for more than $5,000, far above the $1,999 starting price. Apple’s per‑customer cap is intended to stop resellers and automated bots from acquiring large quantities. The company has previously used similar restrictions in China, Hong Kong and Singapore, and earlier U.S. launches have seen Apple block bulk purchases in a similar fashion.

Shipping and availability

Initial shipping estimates placed delivery in January, but some customers received earlier pickup dates through major carriers and retailers such as Best Buy. The earlier dates were rolled out in response to the rush of orders and the limited supply. Apple has also moved some deliveries to earlier months as the pre‑order queue continued to build.

For buyers who want to purchase through official channels, the two‑unit limit guarantees that they pay the standard retail price, even if they must wait longer for shipping. The restriction slows down bulk buying and reduces the chances that a large number of phones will be resold at a premium.