Apple has taken its online store offline ahead of iPhone Duo pre-orders opening later today, temporarily replacing product pages with its familiar “be right back” message as the company prepares for what could be one of its busiest iPhone launches in years.
The Apple Store went down early Friday morning ahead of pre-orders for Apple’s first foldable iPhone. The move is standard practice before major product launches, allowing Apple to make final changes to its online storefront before orders begin.
iPhone Duo pre-orders open at 5 a.m. PT / 8 a.m. ET in the United States and 1 p.m. BST in the UK. Apple has also confirmed those times in its latest iPhone Duo Newsroom update, with orders available through apple.com and the Apple Store app.
The temporary shutdown comes just hours after Apple closed its advance “Get Ready” process. Customers who saved a preferred configuration before the deadline will be able to return when pre-orders open and complete checkout more quickly. The Apple Post previously covered Apple’s final cutoff for saving an iPhone Duo configuration ahead of today’s launch.
Customers who did not prepare an order in advance can still buy iPhone Duo when the store returns, although Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to attract significant attention. Apple was reportedly concerned earlier this year that production problems could push the launch into November, before building enough inventory to maintain the October schedule.
More recently, Apple was reported to have increased iPhone Duo orders by 30% ahead of pre-orders, suggesting the company has been working to strengthen supply before the device reaches customers.
iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the United States and £1,999 in the UK, with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB storage configurations available in star white and night sky. Our full pricing and release guide breaks down the available configurations.
The first iPhone Duo orders are scheduled to arrive on Friday, October 23, when the device will also go on sale in Apple Stores and through other retailers in more than 70 countries and regions. A second wave of availability is planned for October 30.
Anyone planning to order today can also check our guide to iPhone Duo pre-order times before the Apple Store comes back online.
For the latest iPhone Duo news, launch coverage and analysis, download The Apple Post app on iPhone and iPad.
