Apple begins taking preorders for the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, at 5 a.m. PT (8 a.m. ET) Friday on its website and Apple Store app, the company said. The phone goes on sale in stores Oct. 23, HardwareZone reported.

The Duo starts at $1,999, and the model with the most storage costs $3,199, Reuters reported when Apple unveiled the phone in September. It has a 5.4-inch outer screen that opens into a 7.6-inch inner display, HardwareZone said.

HardwareZone's reviewer, who tried the phone briefly when Apple unveiled it in September, wrote that "you have to look very hard to notice the crease." The crease can be felt with a finger but is barely visible, helped by a hinge design and a coating that cuts glare, the reviewer said. The reviewer found the Duo chunkier than Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold8 but said it "feels extremely well put together" and is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance. The Duo has two rear cameras, HardwareZone said.

Analysts told Reuters that Apple's brand should drive strong early sales, but the high price and unclear target buyer could confine the Duo to wealthy early adopters. "Apple doesn't usually define who the buyer is, but in this case specifically, they really shied away from it," said Carolina Milanesi of Creative Strategies. Neil Shah of Counterpoint Research estimated Apple would still sell close to 6 million units by the end of the year.

Foldables are on track to make up less than 3% of the global smartphone market in 2026, according to research firm IDC, Reuters reported.

What we know: Preorders open at 8 a.m. ET Friday, and the Duo starts at $1,999 before reaching stores on Oct. 23.
What we don't: How strong demand will be, and how the Duo holds up in full reviews.