Apple has confirmed when buyers can start the iPhone Duo order process, and the window opens before pre-orders themselves. According to 9to5Mac, which read a new update on Apple's website, the company will let customers ‘Get ready’ for an iPhone Duo pre-order beginning October 12.
The ‘Get ready’ step lets a buyer choose the iPhone Duo color, storage amount, wireless carrier and payment method in advance. The selections are made in the Apple Store app or on Apple's online store. Starting October 12, and likely running through much of October 15, a buyer can finish those choices without the pressure of the live sale.
The point of doing it early is speed. Apple says that completing the process ahead of time gets a buyer through checkout faster once pre-orders go live on Friday, October 16 at 8:00 a.m. ET, which is 5:00 a.m. Pacific. A buyer who has already made the choices has fewer chances to hit a snag in the first hours of the sale, and that improves the odds of launch-day delivery when stock is tight.
The dates are the news here. The product itself is not new: Apple has already announced the iPhone Duo, and this update covers only the purchase path. What the report does not say is how many units will be available on the first morning, or when orders placed on October 16 will arrive. Those are the questions a buyer will have, and the source does not answer them.
For anyone who plans to buy at launch, the practical advice is simple. Pick the configuration on October 12 through October 15, sign in to the account used for payment, and be ready at 8:00 a.m. ET on October 16. Anyone who wants to see how the foldable handles in daily use before committing can wait for early reviews, which will arrive after pre-orders open.