Apple's $2,200 Foldable iPhone Duo Reportedly Draws Over 1.18 Million Pre-Orders as CEO Defends Pricing

Apple Foldable Draws Reported 1.18 Million Reservations

Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, has reportedly attracted more than 1.18 million reservations ahead of launch, according to a Sina Finance report. The device carries a listed price of 15,999 yuan, a figure that places it firmly in the premium tier of the foldable market.

The scale of the reported reservation number is notable for a category that has, until now, been led largely by Android manufacturers. Reservations in the Chinese market typically do not require a full upfront payment and are not the same as final sales, so the figure should be read as an indicator of early interest rather than confirmed revenue.

CEO Says Price Reflects Build Quality

Apple's CEO addressed the pricing directly, arguing that the iPhone Duo is expensive but worth the money. In the same remarks, the CEO drew a contrast with rival foldables, saying many competing devices feel like cheap plastic to the touch.

That is a pointed claim in a segment where hinge design, display crease behavior, and chassis materials are among the most closely watched differentiators. Foldable pricing has generally remained well above that of standard flagship phones because of the added display panel, hinge assembly, and durability engineering. Whether buyers accept Apple's positioning at 15,999 yuan will become clearer once independent reviews and teardown analyses are available.

Executive Alleges Rivals Used Leaks to Copy

A company executive also claimed that some competitors used leaked information to get a head start on copying Apple's design. The allegation, as reported, was not accompanied by named companies or supporting documentation in the source material.

Leak-driven development cycles are a long-standing complaint across the consumer electronics industry. Supply chain partners, accessory makers, and regulatory filings are all common sources of early product information, and companies frequently accuse one another of benefiting from premature disclosures. Such claims are difficult to verify from the outside, and no specific evidence was presented in the report.

What Remains Unclear

Several key details are not established by the available reporting. There is no confirmed launch date, no verified breakdown of reservation numbers by model or region, and no independent confirmation of the CEO's characterization of rival hardware. Reservation counts can also be inflated by duplicate entries, reseller activity, or low-commitment sign-ups.

For now, the story is less about a single product and more about Apple's entry into a form factor it has watched from the sidelines. If the reported demand holds through actual sales, it would mark a significant shift in a market where Apple has so far been absent.

Why It Matters

Foldables have struggled to move beyond enthusiast buyers, largely because of price and durability concerns. A major Apple launch at this price point would test whether the category can support mainstream premium demand, and it would put pressure on Android makers to justify their own pricing and materials.

The competitive rhetoric around plastic feel and alleged copying is typical of a market entering a new phase. The more meaningful signals will be hinge longevity, display crease performance, repairability, and software support for the larger inner screen.

Until those details are confirmed, the reported reservation figure stands as an early and incomplete signal of interest rather than proof of a commercial breakthrough.