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Even before the first iPhone Duo has shipped, Apple has already released a newer version of its software. Anyone who receives the foldable iPhone on October 23rd will therefore have to install an update first – directly during setup.
According to Apple's announcement, the iPhone Duo will launch with iOS 27.1. This version has not yet been released for other iPhones. There was no public beta testing phase; the betas continued directly with iOS 27.2.
On October 12th, Apple released a newer build of iOS 27.1. Devices that shipped with the older version will download it during initial setup. All data, prices, and release dates for the foldable iPhone are compiled in the iPhone Duo overview.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The iPhone Duo ships with iOS 27.1 in Build 24A94232 pre-installed.
- Build 24A94425 has been available since October 12th and is installed during setup.
- There is no changelog for the newer build.
- Pre-orders start on October 16th, sales start on October 23rd.
Older than current from the factory
The iPhone Duo's factory-installed build number is 24A94232, while the current build is 24A94425. There is no changelog for the newer build. Therefore, an update during setup is always necessary, as the devices ship with the older build.
The same pattern as with the iPhone 18 Pro
This process is not new. Even at the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple Watch in September, the devices came with an older build of iOS 27 pre-installed than the one Apple distributed at launch.
| Date | iPhone Duo |
|---|---|
| October 12, 2026 | New build of iOS 27.1 released |
| October 16, 2026, 2 p.m. | Pre-orders start |
| October 23, 2026 | Sales launch, update during setup |
Pre-orders begin in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland on Friday at 2 PM. Pre-orders can be prepared starting October 12th.
Plan more time on the starting day
I consider the day-one update for the iPhone Duo more important than for a regular iPhone. iOS 27.1 didn't have a public beta phase, and any fixes before the sales launch are directly incorporated into the initial setup. Therefore, anyone getting the iPhone Duo on October 23rd should have a Wi-Fi connection and a power adapter ready before starting the data transfer from their old iPhone.
Do you prefer to set up a new iPhone immediately on the day it arrives, or do you deliberately wait a few days until the first bugs are discovered? Tell us in the comments how you handle it with the Duo.
