On Thursday (22 Oct), one netizen asked on Reddit if anyone was planning to queue at the Apple store for the latest iPhone Duo. In response, netizens stated that they had better things to do.
However, this did not stop a steady crowd from forming outside the store on Orchard Road that night, hours ahead of its 8am opening.
Apple first announced the iPhone Duo in a press release on 9 Sept, their first foldable product. It opens into a dual display screen, becoming the thinnest iPhone in existence.
When closed, it offers a compact outer display, with 90 per cent of the iPhone 18 Pro’s screen area.
Powered by the new A20 Pro, the product features a newly advanced thermal management system, hardware design and camera technologies, making it the most coveted phone on the market.
It is also the priciest iPhone to date, with prices upwards of S$3,099.
Pre-orders for the iPhone started on 16 Oct, capped at two units per customer. They have since sold out.
The first-wave release was slated for 23 Oct across all three Apple stores in Singapore.
This included the Orchard Road, Marina Bay Sands, and Jewel at Changi Airport locations.
Due to the demand, the estimated delivery date for online orders has been delayed until 22 Jan 2027.
Source: Apple via NewsWav
On 22 Oct, hundreds of Singaporeans started queuing up outside the Apple store on Orchard Road overnight, in anticipation of the release.
A netizen posted a video on Facebook of him passing by the area at 10.30pm.
The Original Poster (OP) reported seeing several groups congregating outside the Apple store, talking to a few security guards and police officers.
While an official queue was yet to be established, clusters of fans were already waiting in the area.
Source: Living for Love via Facebook
The OP witnessed another group waiting outside the nearby Courts Nojima The Heeren outlet, as the iPhone Duo was also available for sale here.
They had brought folding chairs to form their own queue.
Source: Living for Love via Facebook
This was also captured in an Instagram video by Singapore Atrium Sale.
Source: Singapore Atrium Sale via Instagram
When the OP was about to leave the area at 11pm, they saw staff were setting up the official line.
Wristbands were reportedly issued to people in the queue as walk-in customers to purchase the iPhone.
After an anticipatory 1o-second countdown, the Apple store at Orchard Road opened its doors at 8am. Customers flooded the stores, trying out the demo units on display.
In a video posted on Instagram by Singapore Atrium Sale, the Orchard Road location was reported to have completely run out of stock at 8.50am.
Source: Singapore Atrium Sale via Instagram
CNA reported that the first walk-in buyer of the store was Adnan Mehta, a 36-year-old man from Mumbai, India.
He waited over ten hours in line and refused an offer of S$3,000 to give up the spot.
Upon purchasing the iPhone Duo, Mr Mehta stated that he would let his wife be the one to unbox it.
As of 25 Oct, stocks are available online at Harvey Norman and Mister Mobile.
However, shortly after its release, buyers have already reported instances of online scalping.
A check on Carousell on 25 Oct showed that the iPhone Duo was being sold for as high as S$6,888.
Source: Carousell
Also read: Queue Forms Outside Courts Orchard A Day Before iPhone 15 Release, Many Seen With Luggage
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Featured image by Apple (left) and Singapore Atrium Sale (right).