According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple distributed roughly 80% of its initial iPhone Duo inventory directly to its physical retail locations. Speaking on the latest episode of his Power On podcast and citing sources close to the device's logistics, Gurman revealed that individual stores received as few as 50 units each. Despite these limited quantities, most customers who waited in line on launch day were able to purchase a unit.
Flagship locations reportedly held significantly higher stock levels, with some carrying up to 250 units. The Fifth Avenue store was stocked unusually heavily because Apple executives attended the launch event there. This specific allocation strategy explains the disparity between online and offline availability; pre-orders placed on October 16 slipped to late January delivery estimates within minutes, whereas those queuing in stores walked away with their new phones.
At the time of the launch, Apple characterized the demand as "nothing short of extraordinary" and stated it was working to satisfy orders "as quickly as possible." Consequently, customers facing distant delivery estimates may see their dates improve over time. The iPhone Duo is priced starting at $1,999 for 256GB in the U.S., with higher storage tiers reaching up to $3,199 for 2TB. In the UK, pricing mirrors these figures in pounds sterling.
Sources: MacRumors.