Apple introduced its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, to the Japanese market on the 23rd, attracting a line of reserved buyers at its Ginza flagship store in Tokyo well before the 8 a.m. opening. The device carries a starting price of 364,800 yen for the 256-gigabyte model, a figure that did not deter early adopters.
When unfolded, the handset reveals a 7.6-inch display positioned between a conventional phone and a tablet in size. The larger canvas enables immersive video viewing and simultaneous use of multiple apps, such as referencing a document while taking notes or watching YouTube while gaming.
At the Ginza location, 15 people had gathered ahead of doors opening. A 44-year-old financial writer said he expected Apple to demonstrate compelling uses for the expansive screen and considered the price inexpensive, adding he would have paid 500,000 yen.
Online pre-orders proved fiercely competitive. A 27-year-old company employee described using both a computer and a smartphone to secure a reservation within 40 seconds of the window opening. He plans to use the device for split-screen entertainment.
Walk-in hopefuls also appeared at the store despite sales being limited to reservation holders. A 52-year-old Tokyo resident said his pre-order attempt ended in seconds and he visited on the chance that additional inventory might surface.
