Apple limits iPhone Duo purchases to two per customer, including in the US and China
In short
Apple is limiting purchases of the iPhone Duo to two per customer. The limit shows on Apple's China site, and the US site displays it when a customer tries to buy more than two. Apple customer service told Jiemian the limit applies worldwide, and Chinese outlets said it may be meant to curb scalpers.
Read the full story 2 min read
Apple is limiting purchases of its iPhone Duo to two per customer. Jiemian reported on October 21 that Apple's China website says each customer may buy 2 units of the phone, which is planned to go on sale on October 23. Apple customer service told Jiemian the limit applies worldwide, not only in China. CLS and 36Kr reported the same. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Apple has not published an announcement on the reason for the limit. Jiemian and CLS said it may be to curb scalpers hoarding the phone. [ 3 , 4 ]
IT Home reported on October 20, citing MacRumors, that Apple's US website already limited the foldable iPhone Duo to two per customer, estimated to be a response to scalpers. A customer who tries to buy more than two through the website or the Apple Store app sees a message saying each customer may buy at most two and asking them to adjust the order before checkout. IT Home and cnBeta both noted that the China page states the limit openly, while the US site shows it only after a customer tries to add more than two to the cart. [ 1 , 2 ]
It is unclear when the US limit took effect. IT Home said some users reported successfully buying four iPhone Duo, while others said the two-unit limit applied at the October 16 pre-order. cnBeta said some Reddit users described the limit as added later, and that Apple had already set the limit of two in China, Singapore and Hong Kong. [ 1 , 2 ]
Jiemian said pre-orders opened at 8 p.m. on October 16 through Apple's website, the Apple Store app and its Tmall store, and the platform lagged at one point because of heavy traffic. It said scalpers generally secured 3 units each. Prices in China are 15,999 yuan for 256GB, 17,999 yuan for 512GB, 21,499 yuan for 1TB and 26,499 yuan for 2TB. cnBeta said first-day delivery stock sold out within minutes and many customers were given November or December delivery dates, though some have since seen earlier dates. [ 2 , 3 ]
Jiemian reported that on October 17 Dewu showed pre-sale resale prices above 20,000 yuan for several versions, with a 1TB model near 29,000 yuan, 7,143 yuan above the launch price. On October 21 it found a seller offering the 512GB model for 24,888 yuan, 6,889 yuan above the official price. Jiemian attributed the supply limits to a reported 65% yield and daily output of only a few hundred units, citing supply chain information, and cited a Securities Times report that total orders remain below 10 million units. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
Outlets describe strong demand and limited supply for the iPhone Duo, with resale prices in China well above Apple's list prices. The purchase cap may affect how many units scalpers can obtain, though the documents do not say whether it will.
Key facts
- Apple's China website says each customer may buy at most 2 iPhone Duo, and the phone is planned to go on sale on October 23. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- On Apple's US website and app, trying to buy more than two iPhone Duo brings up a message asking the customer to reduce the quantity before checkout. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Apple customer service told Jiemian that the iPhone Duo is purchase-limited worldwide, not only in China. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Apple has not published an announcement on the reason for the limit; Jiemian and CLS said it may be to curb scalpers hoarding the phone. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Pre-orders opened on October 16 at 8 p.m. through Apple's website, the Apple Store app and its Tmall store, and the pre-order platform lagged at one point because of heavy traffic. [ 3 ]
- China prices are 15,999, 17,999, 21,499 and 26,499 yuan for the 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB versions. [ 3 ]
- On October 21, Jiemian found a seller offering the 512GB model for 24,888 yuan, 6,889 yuan above the official price. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The iPhone Duo is limited to two units per customer on Apple's China site. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Apple customer service said the limit applies worldwide, and the company has not published an announcement on the reason. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- On Apple's US site the limit is not stated in advance and appears only when a customer tries to add more than two devices. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- When the two-unit limit took effect in the US. IT Home and cnBeta, citing MacRumors and Reddit users, said some users bought four iPhone Duo and others said the cap of two applied at the October 16 pre-order, so the timing cannot be confirmed.
- Why Apple introduced the limit. Apple has not published a reason; Jiemian, CLS and 36Kr said it may be to curb scalpers, and MacRumors, as relayed by IT Home, called it an estimated response to scalpers.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 16: iPhone Duo pre-orders open on Apple's website, the Apple Store app and its Tmall store. [ 3 ]
- October 20: IT Home, citing MacRumors, reports Apple's US site limits iPhone Duo to 2 per customer. [ 1 ]
- October 20: cnBeta reports the US limit and says it is unclear whether it existed from the start of pre-orders. [ 2 ]
- October 21: Jiemian reports the global limit of 2 units per customer, citing Apple customer service. [ 3 ]
- October 21: CLS reports the same limit. [ 4 ]