Source: Shenlan Finance

At 8 p.m. on October 16, Apple unveiled its inaugural foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, launching pre-sales with base model prices starting at 15,999 yuan and top-tier versions reaching up to 26,499 yuan.

This highly anticipated “foldable” release from Apple sparked a buying frenzy, with the official website crashing under the strain, the first batch selling out instantly, and scalpers reveling in the chaos.

At a juncture where foldable screen technology has already undergone several iterations, Apple's entry not only disrupted secondary market pricing but also has the potential to redefine the software ecosystem for foldable screens.

1

Pre-sale Sells Out in an Instant, Scalpers Rejoice

The high demand for the iPhone Duo was apparent well before its release.

Prior to the sale, pre-orders at JD.com's Apple flagship store surpassed 2 million, significantly outpacing pre-order numbers for traditional flagship models during the same period.

On the evening of October 16, shortly after pre-sales commenced, Apple's official website experienced outages due to overwhelming traffic. The first batch of inventory on official channels such as Tmall and Douyin quickly sold out, with related topics dominating Weibo's trending list within minutes.

According to tests conducted by Lan Jing News reporters, attempts to access the purchase page resulted in failed transactions, with the page crashing and the first batch of stock depleted within seconds. Approximately 15 minutes later, the shipping date for purchased units had already been postponed to December 5.

The substantial gap between supply and demand swiftly ignited a frenzy in the secondary market.

On the Dewu platform, within minutes of the pre-sale opening, transaction prices for multiple iPhone Duo versions exceeded 20,000 yuan.

The black version commanded a higher premium than the white version, with the 1TB model reaching nearly 29,000 yuan, a staggering 7,143 yuan above the official price. The 256GB model sold for 6,086 yuan more than the 15,999 yuan official price, marking a roughly 38% increase.

Data released by Dewu indicated that over 1,000 iPhone Duo units had already been sold on the platform.

Faced with such intense demand, scalpers capitalized on the opportunity.

Some scalpers had previously stated that to secure the first batch of stock on the official release date of October 23, a markup of at least 6,000 to 12,000 yuan would be necessary. However, some merchants remained cautious, concerned about potential stock shortages and that excessive markups might deter customers.

On other secondhand platforms, the iPhone Duo also experienced varying degrees of price increases, with overall markups ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 yuan. Some scalpers even claimed that the iPhone Duo would become the model with the highest premium in history.

This fervor was not limited to the Chinese market. At 8 a.m. Eastern Time in the United States, a similar scenario unfolded.

Analyst Max Weinbach reported on X that stores in New York and surrounding areas, as well as Connecticut, sold out in approximately three minutes. Within half an hour, delivery dates for all configurations in the U.S. were pushed back to January 25. On eBay, a pre-ordered 2TB model was listed for $5,000, $1,800 above the official price.

2

A Game-Changer for the Foldable Screen Ecosystem?

Beyond the initial frenzy, the arrival of the iPhone Duo could bring about significant changes in the foldable screen market.

As Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo features a horizontal book-style folding design and, when unfolded, showcases a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display—the largest and most expensive iPhone screen to date.

However, software adaptation remains a critical challenge affecting the foldable screen experience.

Many Android foldable smartphones merely enlarge app interfaces when unfolded, leaving large blank areas and offering incomplete split-screen functionality.

A front-end engineer from a major company noted that adapting apps for foldable screens, with their unique aspect ratios, requires a team of at least 5 to 10 people. Development resources are often prioritized for straight-screen smartphones with higher shipment volumes.

The iPhone Duo's entry may compel developers to reevaluate their strategies. Apple offers a relatively unified hardware ecosystem, development tools, and distribution channels, along with a user base willing to pay a premium for high-end devices.

IDC predicts that Apple will ship approximately 7 million Duo units this year, with a 70% increase next year, capturing about 40% of the global foldable screen market and surpassing Samsung and Huawei.

Notably, according to Apple's repair pricing, replacing the inner screen of the Duo outside of warranty costs 7,998 yuan, while replacing the outer screen and back glass costs 4,298 yuan. AppleCare+ is priced at 2,599 yuan.

The prudent approach to using this “annual investment product” might be to purchase insurance first.

The iPhone Duo will officially go on sale on October 23, and whether it can replicate the success of the iPhone X will soon be evident.

*Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author. The market carries risks, and investments should be made with caution. Under no circumstances does the information or opinions presented in this article constitute investment advice for any individual.

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