Apple’s first foldable iPhone officially goes on sale in South Africa on Friday, 23 October, although getting your hands on one might be another story. In the US, customers ordering the iPhone Duo through Apple’s website have been given delivery dates as far out as late January 2027, while some orders in Brazil are only expected to arrive in February.
That’s an unbelievable wait time for a phone that costs $1 999 in the US and starts at R47 999 in South Africa. Apple has described the response to pre-orders as extraordinary, although there’s also been plenty of reporting about manufacturing difficulties and limited stock.
The delays started almost as soon as pre-orders opened on 16 October. Within half an hour, Apple’s US website was already showing an estimated delivery date of 25 January 2027 across every storage and colour combination. Some customers were subsequently given dates of 29 January, according to 9to5Mac’s reporting.
The situation wasn’t confined to the US. Buyers in several other countries also saw delivery estimates move into 2027, with some Brazilian orders pushed into February. Apple told CNBC that pre-order demand had been “nothing short of extraordinary”, although it hasn’t released sales figures.
It’s easy to look at those shipping dates and assume Apple’s got an enormous hit on its hands. It might well have, but there’s another explanation for at least some of the delay. Reports ahead of the launch suggested Apple was struggling to manufacture enough folding displays and hinges, with production running well behind what would normally be expected for a new iPhone.
South African buyers could also face a wait. iStore, which is offering the Duo through its 43 stores and online, says launch stock is heavily constrained. It hasn’t said how many devices are available locally or how long customers who miss the first allocation might have to wait.
Apple’s first foldable isn’t cheap
I’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 since its launch in July, and I still get a kick out of opening it. The larger screen is wonderful for reading, browsing websites and looking at photographs. I’ve even moved some of my banking apps across because I find myself reaching for it so often.
I’m also an iPhone user, and one of the things that’s kept me from moving over to the Fold8 completely is Apple’s ecosystem. The Duo is therefore a phone I’ve been particularly curious about, although I haven’t used one yet.
Apple has taken a similar approach to Samsung with a compact outer display that opens into a much larger screen. The Duo has a 5.4-inch screen on the outside and a 7.6-inch display inside, compared with the Fold8’s 5.5-inch and 7.6-inch displays respectively.
Underneath is Apple’s A20 Pro chip, while the frame and hinge cover are made from titanium. There’s also a dual 48MP rear camera system, with a main and ultra-wide camera. The lack of a dedicated telephoto lens is disappointing at this price, particularly for anyone upgrading from an iPhone Pro Max who regularly uses optical zoom.
Apple has adapted iOS 27 for the folding display, including support for using apps alongside one another. The company also plans to introduce USB-C Apple Pencil support later this year. Its official announcement has the full hardware details.
The Duo starts at R47 999 for the 256GB model, making it R7 000 more expensive than Samsung’s entry-level Galaxy Z Fold8. At the other end of the range, the 2TB Duo costs an astonishing R76 999.
| Storage | South African price |
|---|---|
| 256GB | R47 999 |
| 512GB | R52 999 |
| 1TB | R62 499 |
| 2TB | R76 999 |
There’s also something to be said for Samsung having spent years improving its folding phones. Apple’s entering the market with plenty of experience making premium hardware, but the Duo is still its first folding iPhone. I’d be interested to see how the hinge, internal display and software hold up after several months of everyday use.
iPhone Duo contracts start at R1 699 a month
For anyone who doesn’t have R47 999 lying around, iStore has announced contract options through Vodacom, MTN, Telkom and Cell C.
Telkom has the cheapest advertised deal, with the 256GB Duo costing R1 699 a month over 36 months on its FlexOn 6 package. MTN starts at R1 849, while Vodacom and Cell C both start at R1 999.
The prices increase quite sharply as you move up the storage options, particularly with the 1TB and 2TB models.
| Storage | Vodacom | MTN | Telkom | Cell C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 256GB | R1 999 | R1 849 | R1 699 | R1 999 |
| 512GB | R2 199 | R1 999 | R1 839 | R2 099 |
| 1TB | R2 499 | R2 329 | R2 129 | R2 599 |
| 2TB | R2 999 | R2 839 | R2 549 | R2 999 |
Monthly prices over 36 months, based on iStore’s launch announcement dated 23 October 2026.
That R1 699 Telkom contract works out to R61 164 over three years. If you take the R1 999 Vodacom or Cell C option, you’ll pay R71 964 over the same period. Those totals include the cellular service, so they’re not directly comparable with buying the handset outright, but it’s still a lot of money.
The packages themselves also differ. Telkom is offering FlexOn 6, MTN has Yellow Plans Deluxe, Vodacom’s deal uses RED Core 5GB Unlimited, and Cell C is offering Elevate 3 + TopUp. You’ll want to check the data and call allowances before deciding which one works best for you.
And then there’s the three-year commitment. Personally, I’d be a little hesitant to sign a 36-month contract for a first-generation foldable, particularly one this expensive. If something goes wrong with the folding screen or hinge after the included protection expires, repairs could be costly.
It’s also worth comparing the Duo with what’s already available. Samsung has the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra, while Huawei and HONOR offer their own folding phones. If you’re still deciding what to buy, the Reframed Phone Finder lets you compare smartphones officially available in South Africa, including prepaid and contract deals, based on what you actually want from your next phone.
The finder also allows you to prioritise things such as camera quality, battery life and value for money. It’s particularly useful if you’re open to Android and want to see what else your budget could buy.
Trading in your old iPhone could reduce the price
There’s another option if you’ve already got a relatively recent iPhone.
iStore is offering trade-in deals that could bring the Duo’s starting price down to R30 199. To get that particular price, you’d need to hand over a 256GB iPhone 17 Pro Max, which would give you R17 800 towards the new phone.
Trading in a 256GB iPhone 17 Pro leaves R32 399 to pay for the same Duo.
Here are the examples iStore provided for the iPhone 17 Pro range:
| New iPhone Duo | Trade-in device | Price after trade-in |
|---|---|---|
| 256GB | iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB | R30 199 |
| 256GB | iPhone 17 Pro 256GB | R32 399 |
| 512GB | iPhone 17 Pro Max 512GB | R32 199 |
| 512GB | iPhone 17 Pro 512GB | R34 399 |
| 1TB | iPhone 17 Pro Max 1TB | R41 699 |
| 1TB | iPhone 17 Pro 1TB | R43 899 |
| 2TB | iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB | R51 999 |
| 2TB | iPhone 17 Pro 1TB | R58 399 |
There are offers for the iPhone 16 Pro range as well. Someone trading in a 256GB iPhone 16 Pro Max would pay R32 399 for the entry-level Duo, while an iPhone 16 Pro 256GB brings the price down to R33 199.
I’m not convinced I’d want to trade in a year-old iPhone 17 Pro Max and still pay another R30 199, especially when the Duo doesn’t have the same camera flexibility. Then again, I can understand the temptation. I’ve spent enough time with the Fold8 to appreciate how useful that larger screen can be, and having it on an iPhone would be rather lovely.
Still, I’d check what the existing phone is worth on the second-hand market before accepting a trade-in offer. iStore advertises cashback of up to R25 000, but the actual valuation depends on the phone being handed over and its condition. The retailer has an online trade-in calculator if you want an estimate.
It’s also worth remembering that the trade-in deals shown here involve giving up an expensive phone you already own. The amount left to pay isn’t the total value of the transaction.
What happens if the folding screen breaks?
iStore is including two years of complimentary iCarePlus with new iPhone Duo purchases, a package it values at R1 999.
That includes extended warranty coverage and screen repair protection, although the announcement doesn’t give much detail about what happens if you accidentally damage the internal display. There’s no explanation of repair excesses or exclusions, so I’d want to see the full terms before buying.
Repair costs are something I’d pay particular attention to with any foldable. These screens are more complicated than conventional smartphone displays, and replacing one can be expensive. A protective plan is useful, but the details of what’s covered are just as important as the fact that protection is included.
For customers buying through iStore, there’s also assistance available with transferring data and setting up the phone.
The retailer is encouraging customers to place orders online or through its app because of the limited stock. Its announcement says the Duo is launching in stores and online on 23 October, although the product page was still displaying a pre-order label when checked on Friday.
It’s a good idea to phone ahead if you’re planning to visit a store, particularly if you’ve got your heart set on a particular colour or storage option.