Rs 3 lakh iPhone Duo goes on sale in India: did fans line up outside the store?
Apple’s first foldable iPhone is finally available to buy in India, but getting one may be harder than paying for it. The iPhone Duo went on sale today, October 23rd, following its September launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. While the two Pro models reached stores a week after their announcement, the foldable arrived later, with pre-orders opening last week.
Everyone expected the iPhone Duo to be priced “app-tly”, but it was launched at nearly the Rs 3 lakh mark, making it one of Apple’s most expensive consumer devices in India. Its book-style design, large inner display and iOS experience will have to do a lot of the convincing at that price.
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iPhone Duo price in India and offers
The iPhone Duo costs Rs 2,99,900 for the 256GB variant. The 512GB and 1TB models are priced at Rs 3,24,900 and Rs 3,74,900, respectively, while the 2TB version costs Rs 4,49,900. It comes in Star White and Night Sky colour options. As usual, Apple hasn’t revealed the RAM details officially. Buyers can purchase the phone through Apple’s online store and retail partners, including Croma, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales and Lotus Electronics.
Apple is offering up to Rs 81,500 in trade-in credit for eligible iPhones, starting with the iPhone 13 generation. There is also up to Rs 7,000 instant cashback on eligible American Express, Axis Bank and ICICI Bank cards, along with No Cost EMI for up to 12 months through participating banks. Buyers also get three months each of Apple Music, Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade.
iPhone Duo first sale: here’s what buyers said
As much as you would think a Rs 3 lakh phone would dissuade buyers from purchasing a phone, Apple fans are built differently. Reasons for buying range from “it’ll be an experience to use to Duo” to “IP68 durability advantage over other foldables.” Check out what one of India’s first Duo buyers had to say about it.
Should you buy the iPhone Duo now?
This may not be a question of value as much as its about logistics. The bigger problem is availability. Reports suggest Apple has brought only around 6,000 units to India for the first week, with the company limiting purchases to two units per customer. Online orders are reportedly showing delivery dates in January 2027, while grey market sellers are asking Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 above the official starting price.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, which launched in India at around Rs 1.8 lakh, is a substantially cheaper alternative for buyers who want a large foldable display. The iPhone Duo’s appeal will largely come down to how much they value Apple’s software and ecosystem over the price advantage offered by Samsung. There’s little reason to pay a grey market premium unless getting the phone immediately is worth that extra cost. Buyers can try Apple’s official stores and retail partners for launch stock, but those who can wait should stick to the official price and compare real-world battery life, cameras and durability before spending nearly Rs 3 lakh on Apple’s first foldable.
As noted in our first impressions, the iPhone Duo’s biggest draw may not be the fact that it folds, but how Apple has built the software experience around that design. From multitasking and the Netflix app to Standby and even the folding animations, the small touches make the device feel like more than a regular iPhone with a foldable screen.
