iPhone Duo launch day in Dubai: Early queues, the 256GB favourite and a collector who keeps every iPhone ever made

Dubai: Apple's official stores in the UAE began delivering the foldable iPhone Duo yesterday to customers who had pre-ordered the devices, amid a remarkable turnout and queues in which customers lined up from early morning hours to receive their new phones from the company's store in Dubai Mall. During a field visit, we observed a steady stream of customers who had previously reserved the phone, with a noticeable focus on the 256GB version. It was also noted that Pakistani resident Mohammed Shaka received one of the new devices, marking the first collection of the phone from the Apple store in Dubai Mall. A number of customers who received the phones said that they were keen to reserve them early, ever since reservations became available on October 16, in order to get them as soon as they were released, and to try the first foldable phone from the iPhone brand. The iPhone Duo prices in the UAE start from AED8,499 for the 256GB version and go up to AED13,599 for the 2TB version. The iPhone Duo prices in the UAE start from AED8,499 for the 256GB version and go up to AED13,599 for the 2TB version. Picture credit: Supplied Customer Mohammed Shaka said he made sure to reserve the phone as soon as pre-orders became available, and waited from the early morning hours to pick it up from the Apple store in Dubai Mall. He added that acquiring new versions of iPhones is a hobby of his, noting that he keeps a case containing the phone's versions since its launch, and he showed it to customers after receiving the new device. For his part, customer Ahmed Al-Abdouli said that he received the phone with a storage capacity of 256 gigabytes, explaining that he bought it to try the first foldable phone from Apple’s releases. For his part, customer Artemi Galnova indicated that he bought the phone out of curiosity to learn about its features and compare his experience with other iPhone models. He added that he had been waiting since the early morning to receive the device. Trader Fayez Samir said that he bought two phones of the 256GB storage version, explaining that he and his friends prefer this category, especially given the high prices of versions with larger storage capacities. Apple operates five official stores in the UAE, with two stores in Abu Dhabi, two stores in Dubai, and one store in Al Ain. According to the specifications listed in the phone's data, the iPhone Duo is powered by the A20 Pro processor and features an internal design with two batteries and a thermal management system. It comes with a 5.4-inch external screen and a 7.6-inch internal screen when the device is unfolded, providing more space for watching videos, playing games, and performing various tasks. The phone features two rear cameras, each with a 48-megapixel resolution. The main camera allows for full-resolution image capture, while a default 24-megapixel resolution is used to balance image quality and file size. The main camera relies on a large sensor, a wide aperture, and a sensor-moving optical image stabilisation system, with the aim of improving photography in low-light conditions. The phone's body also comes with a frame and hinge made of Grade 5 titanium, with a ceramic shield protective layer.