If you were worried you couldn't get an iPhone Duo on launch day because there wasn't enough walk in stock, I've just checked out my local Apple Store and I can tell you there were unreserved devices available for purchase.
- Some unreserved iPhone Duos had been kept aside at Stratford, East London Apple Store
- Both colors and all configurations could be reserved for collection later in the day
I strolled up to the store at 6:30, having side-stepped the 'Closed' signs on some of the shopping centre doors. I wasn't the only one: there is an open Starbucks which I casually stopped at too before climbing the two tall escalators (not yet turned on) to reach the Apple Store on the third floor.
I didn't really know what to expect as useful information about non-flagship Apple Stores like this has been hard to find (London has a very fancy store on Regent Street, where any queueing happens outdoors on the street, and the weather here is very, well, British today).
When I did get there, I certainly wasn't the first. Rope lines had been put up to accommodate the queues for pre-orders later in the day, or at least that is what I was told at first by the security staff from the mall.
I asked why there were people hanging out then and they shrugged and said it was for the atmosphere (of a closed shopping center and the happy noise of tiles being polished).
I thought it better to ask them.
What I found was that the Apple Store staff were taking reservations for the additional stock – what I've been calling the 'Walk-in' units – so there was a small but moving queue even though the store wasn't going to open for an hour and a half.
There definitely is “walk-in” stock of the iPhone Duo at Stratford Westfield City - pop by this morning, leave your name, and you’ll get a slot for later in the day (you just need to find a way into a half closed shopping centre) https://t.co/7EvhlP9fzzOctober 23, 2026
I shrugged and decided I'd join the fun – I've not actually queued for an iPhone since the first one and this queue was about 4 people long!
I gave my details and chose the model I wanted – none seemed to be out of stock when I did (though the reason for the line was clearly that as configurations went out of stock people could be encouraged to choose others).
I was told to come back at 11:30 as that was the first pickup slot.
So, in other words, despite the panic, there will be a chance to grab a phone on the day.
If not, though, there is definitely a finite number and supply is still constrained. So you might well still want to look at the pre-order options, especially if you like reliability.
If you like the on-the-day fun, at least (for a few hours in the morning) Apple has kept the possibility of getting a device open.
(It probably still isn't the best iPhone for photography, but at least I'll get to find out!)
