If you live in Japan or South Korea, don’t plan on walking into an Apple Store to buy an iPhone Duo on launch day. Apple’s iPhone pages in both countries now say you can’t simply turn up and buy the Duo or the iPhone 18 Pro Max for now.
The iPhone Duo launches on Friday, October 23. These notices are the first word from Apple itself on in-store availability.
What Apple’s Japan and Korea pages say about iPhone Duo walk-ins
The two notices are worded differently, and the difference matters.
Japan: Apple’s Japanese iPhone page says that, for a while, you can’t buy the latest iPhone Duo or iPhone 18 Pro Max at a nearby Apple Store without a reservation. That suggests buying with a reservation still works.
South Korea: Apple’s Korean iPhone page says the two phones currently can’t be bought on-site at Apple Stores. The same notice tells shoppers to buy online and get free delivery, or pick up at an Apple Store.
Why Apple is restricting walk-in sales
Apple’s notices don’t give a reason. MacRumors reads them as limiting both phones to customers with a pickup reservation. It suggests the cause is likely a mix of tight supply and the anti-scalping measures Apple usually uses in Asia.
MacRumors also says Apple’s online store tells shoppers to check back on Saturday, October 24, for in-store pickup reservations.
Supply has been tight from the start. Shipping estimates for new online orders slipped to late January within 30 minutes of pre-orders opening. Mark Gurman has argued that Apple knew supply was too tight. Whatever the cause, scarcity isn’t a win for buyers. They pay for it in waiting time.
What about the US and other countries?
The notices cover Apple’s Japan and Korea pages only. MacRumors says it’s unclear whether the policy extends to other countries, and it’s also unclear how long it will last.
An October 17 MacRumors report claimed US store staff were told to discourage walk-ins. That is a single-outlet report, and Apple hasn’t confirmed it.
What to do if you want an iPhone Duo
In Japan or Korea, don’t queue at a store without a reservation. Order online, or reserve an in-store pickup once Apple opens reservations. Everywhere else, check your local Apple Store app before travelling to a store.
If you’re hunting for stock online, stick to Apple’s own site. We’ve already seen a fake iPhone Duo pre-order page that starts an exploit attempt when opened.
Sources: Apple Japan, Apple Korea, MacRumors
