Just over 24 hours after Apple unveiled its first foldable handset at the autumn keynote on September 10, the device is already commanding staggering resale prices. The iPhone Duo, which opens for pre-orders on October 16 at 8 PM and hits shelves on October 23, has triggered a flurry of scalping and reservation services from third-party sellers, with some merchants posting sky-high asking prices well ahead of the official release.

On the Dewu App, a pre-sale transaction for the iPhone Duo has already closed at 39,999 yuan, marking a 24,000 yuan premium over the official starting price of 15,999 yuan - a jump of roughly 150%. Despite the hefty markups attached to early reservations, the vast majority of consumers are holding out for a chance to purchase the device at its standard retail price. Dewu has launched a lottery system for buyers to secure the foldable at face value, and more than 54,000 users have already registered for the draw.

Apple gained nearly 3% intraday on Friday, rising for a second straight day.

Interest in Apple's broader handset lineup is also climbing steadily. Ahead of their respective launches, the iPhone 18 Pro has attracted over 280,000 reservations on the Dewu App, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max has drawn more than 260,000 prospective buyers.