It’s official: the iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable phone, has been on sale in Canada since Friday, October 23. But if you didn’t pre-order in the first few minutes, getting your hands on one could be a real challenge. Here’s what you need to know about availability, the criticism making the rounds and your options with Canadian carriers.
iPhone Duo at a glance
The iPhone Duo pairs a 5.4-inch outer display with a large 7.6-inch inner display that opens like a book. It runs on the A20 Pro chip and iOS 27, and comes in two colours, Star White and Night Sky, with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB of storage.
One important detail: the iPhone Duo is eSIM-only. There is no physical SIM tray. Before you shop, make sure your current carrier supports eSIM.
For the full spec sheet, see our iPhone Duo overview.
Sold out in minutes
Pre-orders opened on Friday, October 16 at 5 a.m. ET. Within minutes, delivery dates slipped to November, then December, then 2027. On Apple’s Canadian online store, new orders now aren’t expected until February 2027, whatever storage size you pick. That’s a month later than in the U.S. or France, where estimates sit around late January.
Apple calls demand “extraordinary.” But the shortage is also an industrial problem: according to sources close to Foxconn, final assembly yields for the iPhone Duo were only slightly above 60% in mid-September. The hinge, made of more than 100 parts, and the folding display supplied by Samsung Display are far more complex to manufacture than a standard iPhone’s.
Apple parle d’une demande « extraordinaire ». Mais la vraie raison de la pénurie est aussi industrielle : selon des sources proches de Foxconn, le taux de rendement de l’assemblage de l’iPhone Duo plafonnait à un peu plus de 60 % à la mi-septembre. La charnière, composée de plus de 100 pièces, et l’écran pliable fourni par Samsung Display sont beaucoup plus complexes à fabriquer que ceux d’un iPhone classique.
What about in store?
There’s some good news for Canadians: Apple confirmed that its stores here would have limited stock for walk-in customers on launch day. That’s not the case everywhere. In France, Japan or South Korea, for example, stores will only hand over orders already placed online.
Still, Apple expects those units to go very quickly. If you want to try your luck:
- Show up early in the morning at your nearest Apple Store
- Check the in-store pickup option on Apple’s website, which can open up even when delivery shows 2027
- Check carriers too: their stock and delivery dates don’t always match Apple’s
A launch under fire
Not everyone is happy with how the iPhone Duo launch went. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman argues Apple made a mistake by launching in more than 70 countries at once, even though production problems were known internally. Several tech outlets also criticized Apple for touting record demand rather than acknowledging tight supply.
The scarcity also drew in resellers. iPhone Duo pre-orders showed up on eBay well above Apple’s retail price before any units had even shipped. Apple now limits purchases to two units per customer on several of its online stores. Our advice: steer clear of resellers. Beyond the inflated price, there’s no guarantee you’ll actually get the phone.
What early reviews say
Early reviews are broadly positive on the hardware, but flag several compromises for a premium device.
The good
- A nearly invisible crease and a high-quality hinge
- A large battery
- Side-by-side multitasking with two apps on the big screen
The not-so-good
- No Face ID: unlocking uses Touch ID, like an iPad
- No dedicated telephoto lens
- Noticeable weight
- Apps not yet optimized for the large display, and limited multitasking in portrait mode
- No ProRes Log video or ProRAW photos, a gap for creators
It’s the classic first-generation picture: impressive, but with room to grow. Several software features, including a one-handed mode, are already promised in updates before the end of the year.
Buy from Apple or from a carrier?
The iPhone Duo is sold by Apple and by Canada’s major carriers, including Bell, Rogers, Telus and Freedom Mobile. But the offers aren’t easy to compare.
- Device return programs: Bell, Rogers, Telus and Vidéotron offer lower monthly payments if you return the phone after 2 years. If you want to keep it, you’ll owe a final balance that varies a lot from one carrier to the next.
- Standard financing: at Freedom Mobile, for example, the phone is yours once all 24 payments are made.
- Outright purchase: you buy the phone from Apple and keep the freedom to choose your plan.
Before you sign, look at the total 2-year cost (device + plan) and the balance owed if you want to keep the phone.
Should you wait?
If you don’t need the iPhone Duo right away, waiting makes sense. Stock should improve over the coming months, apps will be better adapted to the big screen, and carriers will likely adjust their offers ahead of the holidays.
In the meantime, set up a price alert on PlanHub: we’ll let you know as soon as a good iPhone Duo deal shows up.
