Apple's most expensive iPhone in Vietnam requires nearly $1,200 deposit for preorders

Several retailers announced that preorders would open at 7 p.m. last Friday, with deposits accepted until the end of last Saturday. A customer can pay for only one device.

The deposit exceeds the VND10-20 million required to reserve a car priced at around VND1 billion. Apple's most expensive smartphone starts at VND64.99 million for the 256 GB version and VND103.99 million for the 2 TB model. Deliveries are scheduled to begin on Oct. 23, with preorders initially available only through Apple Authorized Resellers in Vietnam.

A spokesperson for a retail chain said the unusually high deposit is intended to help Apple gauge genuine demand for its first foldable smartphone, particularly given its high price. In comparison, customers ordering the 18 Pro series needed to pay just VND1 million upfront.

The iPhone Duo at its launch at Apple Park headquarters in U.S. on Sept. 9, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Tuan Hung, Trang Phan

A source familiar with Apple's distribution plans told VnExpress that the initial supply of Duo units would be far below the demand anticipated by retailers.

"The number of devices will certainly not meet demand, but it will still be higher than that of other foldable phones currently in the market."

Hoang Tuan, who owns an Apple products store on Hue Street in Hanoi, said the strong demand is unsurprising because Vietnamese consumers tend to favor Apple's latest products, particularly its premium models.

Apple unveiled the Duo alongside the 18 Pro series on Sept. 9, but the Pro models went on sale on Sept. 18.

The Duo comes in two colors, Star White and Night Sky.