[On the Ground] “I waited 17 hours to be the first iPhone Duo buyer” ... Fans open their wallets for Apple’s first foldable

[Financial News] “I got here at 2:40 p.m. the day before and waited for more than 17 hours. I was the second person to buy the iPhone 18 Pro, but I’m happy to be the first this time.”
Park Seong-geon, 34, South Korea’s first buyer of Apple’s first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, said this on the morning of the 23rd as he received the device at Apple Myeongdong in Jung-gu, Seoul. Park, a creative director, plans to use the iPhone Duo he bought this time for work and the iPhone 18 Pro he bought last time for everyday use. “I thought that when I get older, I might not be able to wait this long,” he said, adding that he was looking forward to being able to do several tasks at once using the Duo’s large screen.


At around 7:30 a.m. that day, more than 100 people were lined up outside the Apple Myeongdong flagship store in Jung-gu, Seoul, despite the chilly weather. Only customers who preordered the iPhone Duo can pick it up in store, so an “open run”—showing up without a reservation to buy the product—is not possible. Customers who completed a preorder can pick up their device on launch day without waiting in line, but those hoping to get it even a little earlier kept watch outside the store from the day before launch.
Jeong Woo-deok, South Korea’s third buyer, said he had been lining up since 3:30 p.m. the previous day. He has bought new products since the iPhone launched in 2009. He had traveled to first-wave launch countries such as the United States and Japan each time a product was announced, but this time he would receive it in South Korea.
“I went to the United States and Japan to buy iPhones as soon as they came out, but it’s convenient that I can get one in Korea this time,” Jeong said. “My home is also set up around the iPhone ecosystem.” Having used Apple devices such as the Mac mini and iPhone together, he looked forward to being able to see more information at once on the iPhone Duo’s large screen.
Jeong Hae-ung, a YouTuber and TikTok ambassador, bought the iPhone Duo to use for video editing and livestreaming.
“I used a MacBook for editing and carried an iPhone and an iPad mini around with me, but the Duo feels like those two devices have been combined,” Jeong said. “I think of it as a phone you can edit on.” He added, “It should also be useful for checking myself with the rear camera while livestreaming.”


Reactions were mixed to the Duo’s price, which starts at 3.29 million won. Koo Tae-young, 34, who chose Star White that day, said, “People say it’s expensive, but I think it’s worth the price,” adding, “It has a different design from previous models and feels premium.”
By contrast, Jeong Jun-yang, 40, who chose the same color, said the price was a burden and that he bought the device in 18 monthly installments. “The price is a considerable burden, but I bought it because I think there’s symbolic value in Apple’s first foldable,” Jeong said. “There’s a risk that the performance of a first-generation product may not be guaranteed, but I actually wanted to try the first one.” He emphasized, “I hear people who couldn’t preorder won’t be able to get one until next January. The Duo’s rarity was also a factor in my decision to buy it.”
Some also cited the iPhone’s strong resale value as a reason for buying it. Baek Gwang-hyeon, 34, who bought two phones, one in Star White and one in Night Sky, said, “It looks even better in person,” adding, “People who can afford it keep buying it, don’t they? I don’t think people simply stop buying it because it’s expensive.” He continued, “You can get a refund free of charge within two weeks, so if you don’t like it, you can return it right away, and you can also sell it secondhand. The iPhone holds its resale value, so it doesn’t feel like a burden.”
Some also said the weight was more manageable than expected. Jeong said, “I’d heard a lot that it was heavy, so I came prepared, but it’s smaller than I expected and doesn’t feel heavy,” adding, “I might use it every day and, if things work out, even replace my iPad mini with it.”


Interest in the first foldable was also evident in carrier preorders. According to SK Telecom, the 256GB and 512GB models accounted for 60% of all preorders, and Star White was chosen more often than Night Sky. The first round of preorders through T Direct Shop, which guaranteed delivery on launch day, closed in one minute.
At KT Direct Shop, the available stock of the 256GB and 512GB models for the first and second rounds sold out within one minute of preorders opening. The first and second preorder rounds closed in 40 minutes across all storage capacities, and seven out of 10 customers chose Star White.
Given the product’s high price, carriers also rolled out trade-in and device-care benefits. SK Telecom launched a dedicated insurance plan covering damage and battery replacement, while KT introduced a service that guarantees up to 50% of the original retail price paid if the device is returned after two years. Through its monthly-fee “70% Compensation Pass,” LG Uplus offers customers who return their existing device and upgrade to a new iPhone through the company from the sixth month after activation compensation in points of up to 70% of the original retail price, depending on when the device is returned and its condition.
[email protected] Yoon Hong-jip Reporter