iPhone Duo launch: Apple stores draw queues, walk-in stock runs short

Apple's first foldable iPhone, the Duo, went on sale at Apple Store locations worldwide on Friday, October 23, drawing crowds to outlets in many countries. Queues formed outside stores overnight as shoppers hoped to buy one without a reservation.

Apple published photos of launch events from various cities in a press release issued Friday morning. The company said customers filled its stores while employees offered hands-on demonstrations of the new device and shopping assistance.

Senior executives appeared at separate locations. Greg Joswiak, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, joined retail executive Vanessa Trigub at the Fifth Avenue flagship store in New York. Apple CEO John Ternus was at the Domain NORTHSIDE store in Austin, Texas, with retail chief Deirdre O'Brien. Ternus toured Apple's Austin offices earlier in the week, according to Mark Gurman. Austin is also hosting the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix this weekend, and Apple is the exclusive F1 streamer in the US.

Apple had cautioned before the launch that retail locations would carry "limited" inventory. Store employees told shoppers who could not buy a device to check the Apple Store app on Saturday at 10 a.m. ET for details on store stock availability.

9to5Mac asked readers whether they visited a store on launch morning to buy an iPhone Duo or collect an online order, and whether they were able to get one.