Apple's iPhone Duo store page has a "Get ready for pre-order" button. It saves your choices to Your Saves for a faster checkout when pre-orders open Friday, Oct. 16, at 5:00 a.m. PT (8:00 a.m. ET). Engadget says the phone reaches stores Oct. 23. We have not tried the tool.

The checklist

  1. Save a configuration. Pick Star White or Night Sky, then a storage size, and use "Save for later" or the pre-order button.
  2. Choose storage before Friday. Apple lists these prices, with Apple Card monthly (24 months) and Apple Upgrade lease (24 months, via Klarna):
    • 256GB: $1,999, $83.29 a month, or $57.99 a month leased
    • 512GB: $2,199, $91.62, or $63.80
    • 1TB: $2,599, $108.29, or $75.40
    • 2TB: $3,199, $133.29, or $92.81
  3. Check your trade-in. Apple's page shows $35 to $885 in trade-in credit.
  4. Pick a carrier or skip it. Apple's page offers AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, or lets you connect any carrier later. Carrier deals run up to $1,200 off with an eligible trade-in.
  5. Choose AppleCare. The options are AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, AppleCare One, or none.
  6. Pick delivery. Shipping is free, or you can pick up in a store.

What the page says about the box and setup

The box holds the phone and a USB-C cable, with no power adapter. Apple also lists free online Personal Setup sessions. If you want the reported in-store name greeting, see our hello setup story. For the heat question, see the hinge story.

Why it matters

The 2TB model costs $3,199, which is $1,200 more than the $1,999 256GB model. A buyer who can live with 256GB keeps that $1,200. Saving early speeds checkout, but Engadget cites rumors of limited launch supply.

For a rival price, Samsung lists the Galaxy Z Fold8 from $1,899.99 before trade-in on Samsung.com (Oct. 14), so the Duo's $1,999 starting price is about $99 higher.

Our call, untested

We have not used the tool or the phone. We would save a configuration today, settle storage before Friday and decide on the trade-in and carrier up front. We would also check that we own a USB-C power adapter, since Apple's box does not include one.