The iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable smartphone, is reportedly experiencing a significant supply shortage in India, prompting some retailers to charge up to Rs 1 lakh above its official price of Rs 2,99,900. A survey revealed that over 17 retailers have indicated that limited stock availability has led them to impose a premium on the device for eager customers wishing to avoid long wait times for new shipments.

Store owners in cities such as Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Noida mentioned that they have received only around 10 units each. As a result, they are charging between Rs 70,000 and Rs 1 lakh extra, which could mean that customers may end up paying nearly Rs 4 lakh for the base variant featuring 256GB of storage. Those unwilling to pay the inflated prices may have to wait until supply levels improve.

This situation has drawn the attention of the All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA), which represents over 1.5 lakh mobile retailers across the country. AIMRA stated that while demand for the new iPhone models, particularly the Duo, is robust, initial supplies are severely constrained.

Retailers Unable to Meet Demand

According to AIMRA, several prominent retailers had anticipated receiving around 100 units across various Duo models but were only allocated between 5 and 7 units. This discrepancy has left retailers unable to provide reliable delivery dates or accept pre-bookings with certainty. AIMRA noted that customers are willing to pay an additional Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh over the maximum retail price to secure a device.

However, some retailers have chosen not to impose extra charges on loyal customers. AIMRA remarked, “Retailers remain resolute in billing strictly at MRP for their 10-20-year loyal customers, refusing to compromise long-standing relationships.” This commitment to customer loyalty contrasts sharply with the general trend of price inflation due to limited stock.

A similar situation was reported earlier when the cosmic orange colour variant of the iPhone 17 Pro Max faced a scarcity of units, leading to additional charges from retailers.

Market Dynamics and Future Projections

Despite the high price point, initial interest in the iPhone Duo appears to be strong. Experts highlighted that pre-booking figures are approximately three times higher than those recorded during the announcement phase. They noted that the elevated pricing is influenced by factors such as import duties and foreign exchange rates, which may encourage some consumers to purchase the device from overseas.

Experts do not anticipate that Apple’s entry into the foldable smartphone market will dethrone Samsung from its leading position. They believes that the iPhone Duo could contribute to the expansion of the foldable segment and motivate developers to enhance applications designed for foldable screens. They also projected that foldable smartphone sales in India could surpass 1 million units annually by next year.

Interestingly, the supply shortage is not confined to India. Reports indicate that certain iPhone Duo units in the US have been resold on platforms like eBay at premiums reaching up to $1,800. A video from the YouTube channel Max Tech highlighted that a 2TB Night Sky variant, listed by Apple at $3,199, was sold for $5,000, while a 1TB model priced at $2,599 was marked as sold for $4,400.

Both Apple’s online stores in India and the US have been showing shipping estimates extending into 2027 shortly after pre-orders began. Furthermore, Apple’s India website restricts customers to a maximum of two iPhone Duo units per order.

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