iPhone Duo Pre-Order Sell Out? Do This First

Quick summary: Pre-ordering the iPhone Duo is one thing. Getting it on launch day is the real hurdle. I think first-day pre-orders will sell out in 30 minutes or less, and Apple.com is going to get hammered. So be ready early and have a backup plan.

Key takeaways

• Be up and ready early. Pre-orders sometimes go live a bit before the announced time.
• I expect launch-day stock to be gone in 30 minutes or less.
• Apple.com will get slammed. Its store often comes back 10–15 minutes late during pre-orders.
• Best Buy and the carriers are your backup if Apple.com stalls.
• If you want an unlocked model like I do, your options are narrower.

Be ready before it goes live

Don’t mess around with this one. Phones sometimes go up for pre-order a little earlier than the announced time, so be online and logged in well beforehand. Have your account, payment and shipping details sorted so checkout takes seconds, not minutes.

Why I think it sells out fast

The iPhone Duo is the most hyped iPhone in years. Realistically, I think it’ll be very hard to get from Apple.com on day one. Apple’s site is going to get hammered (pounded with traffic, not drunk!). During pre-orders, the store often comes back up 10–15 minutes later than usual. That’s scary, because you’ll wonder if you already missed it while it’s live at Best Buy or your carrier.

Your backup plan

Plenty of people will end up buying from Best Buy or directly from their carrier instead of Apple.com. If the Apple site is stuck, go straight to those.

For me, I’m getting the unlocked model, which limits my options. If Apple sells out before I check out, I’m in trouble for launch day.

My bet: it sells out in about 30 minutes or less. How fast do you think it’ll go?