Apple Stores Will Add Your Name to iPhone Duo's Startup Screen

Apple is preparing a distinctive touch for the launch of its first foldable phone. Customers who buy the iPhone Duo at a U.S. Apple Store will be able to have the device greet them by name when it powers on for the first time, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The personalization will replace the familiar "Hello" startup screen with a message such as "Hello, Mark," tailored to the buyer.

The feature is limited in scope. Gurman said on X that the customization will be available only at Apple retail locations in the United States, only for the iPhone Duo, and only in English and Spanish. Buyers in other markets, including Germany and Austria, will not have access to the option at launch. Apple has not officially confirmed the feature, and it was not mentioned when the foldable was unveiled in September.

Gurman did not explain how retail staff would apply the greeting. The most likely candidate is Presto, an internal system Apple Stores already use to update iPhones wirelessly while they remain sealed in their boxes. The device boots inside the packaging, installs software, and shuts down without the wrap being removed. According to leaker pdfu, cited by IT Home, Apple is using Presto for the greeting, and a new font is said to be part of the process.

Beyond the novelty, the move serves a strategic purpose. The iPhone Duo starts at roughly $2,000 in the U.S., and in Germany it costs 2,300 euros for the 256 GB model and 3,800 euros for 2 TB. At that price, many potential buyers will want to handle the device before committing, examining the foldable display and its crease. A personalized startup screen gives customers a reason to visit a store, where staff can explain the new form factor and pitch accessories or AppleCare+.

Apple has long offered engraving on iPads and AirTags through its online store. The difference here is that the personalization lives in software and is available only in person. For buyers outside the U.S., the first boot experience remains unchanged. Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo open on October 16, with general availability beginning October 23.

Meanwhile, Apple is adjusting its order structure for the fall iPhone lineup as demand patterns shift. According to supply chain sources cited by Securities Times on October 10, Apple has increased iPhone Duo orders by 30%, though total volume remains below 10 million units. The company has also cut iPhone 18 Pro orders by 10% to 15% while raising iPhone 18 Pro Max orders by 10% to 15%, leaving total orders for the Pro series unchanged.

"This means sales are tilting toward higher-value products, which is overall positive for Apple supply chain companies' performance," a supply chain source told the publication.

The adjustment reflects strong demand for the larger Pro Max model. Compared with the iPhone 18 Pro, the Pro Max offers advantages in screen size, battery life, fast charging, thermal management, signal reception, and camera capabilities, the source said.

The iPhone Duo has generated significant early interest. As of 2 p.m. Beijing time on October 10, registration for the device on JD.com's Apple self-operated flagship store had surpassed 2.01 million people. Counterpoint Research projects Apple will sell about 6 million units of the foldable in 2026.

For the iPhone 18 Pro series, Counterpoint data shows sales in the first three days of launch grew 12% compared with the first week of iPhone 17 Pro series sales. A supply chain source noted that Apple's relatively restrained price increases for new products have benefited both the company and its suppliers, particularly in overseas markets where the iPhone 18 Pro series has seen strong sales thanks to Apple Intelligence features already being available.

The broader premium smartphone market is expanding. Counterpoint Research reported that in the first half of 2026, global sales of smartphones with wholesale prices of $600 and above grew 5% year over year. The premium segment accounted for 29% of total global smartphone sales, up from 25% in the same period of 2025, a record high. Apple held a 65% share of that premium market, with sales up 9% year over year, driven primarily by the iPhone 17 series, especially the standard model.

Apple's product roadmap for the coming year extends beyond the current launch. The supply chain source said Apple will release the iPhone 18 base model, iPhone Air 2, and iPhone 18e in spring 2027. The company departed from its usual pattern this year by launching only the Pro series and the iPhone Duo at its fall event, rather than also unveiling the standard iPhone.

The combination of the personalized greeting and the order adjustments points to Apple's dual strategy: driving foot traffic to its retail stores for a high-margin, high-touch product while fine-tuning production to match where demand is strongest. For the foldable, the in-store experience is central to the launch. For the Pro lineup, the shift toward the Pro Max underscores how Apple is capturing value at the top of its lineup even as the overall smartphone market matures.