Apple's new foldable phone will need a software update before you can actually use it.
The iPhone Duo, Apple's foldable iPhone, ships October 23 running iOS 27.1, a version of iOS 27 built specifically for the device. Review units are going out with build 24A94232, but Apple released a newer build, 24A94425, just a day earlier - likely to fix bugs that turned up during media testing. Buyers probably won't get that exact build either, since Apple still has more than a week before launch to push something newer. Either way, setup will include a required update before the phone is usable.
A foldable device getting its own dedicated iOS build says more about the engineering behind folding hinges and displays than any spec sheet does. It's also a reminder that day-one reviews and early buyer impressions are running on software Apple is still actively patching, which is worth keeping in mind before treating launch-week verdicts as final.
Pre-orders open October 16 at 5 a.m. Pacific, and Apple's push toward its "Get Ready" pre-registration tool signals a bet that this one sells out fast - or at least a marketing nudge meant to make you feel like it will.