Apple Stores Will Reportedly Put Your Name on the iPhone Duo's First Startup Screen

Apple Stores in the United States will reportedly be able to put a buyer's name on the iPhone Duo's first startup screen, so the phone greets a new owner with something like "Hello, Mark." Bloomberg's Mark Gurman shared the detail in a post on X around October 9 or 10 (outlets give both dates), and Apple has not announced the feature (MacRumors, Notebookcheck).

What Gurman says Apple Stores will do

The first-run "Hello" screen is the first thing anyone sees after powering up a new iPhone, so a name there makes the moment personal rather than generic. Gurman did not say which purchases qualify; MacRumors presumes in-store pickup and in-person purchases would both be covered, but that is its reading.

How it might work

The obvious candidate is Presto, the in-store system Apple staff use to power on and update sealed iPhones before sale, which Gurman first reported in 2023. A leaker known as pdfu reportedly said Apple is using that tool for the greeting, which has not been verified (PhoneArena). It is not known whether a customer can ask for a nickname, what happens to phones delivered to the door, or whether the greeting can be changed afterwards.

Why a startup screen matters for the Duo

The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, and at that price the buying and unboxing experience is part of what the customer pays for. Engraving on AirPods and iPads has offered a personal touch for years, but a greeting on the screen itself costs Apple nothing in materials. It also gives Apple Stores a reason to draw Duo buyers through the door instead of shipping to the door.

Dates and India

Pre-orders opened at 5 a.m. Pacific on October 16, and the phone went on sale on October 23. India was in the first wave, at Rs 2,99,900 for 256GB, but the name greeting is reported for US Apple Stores only, so buyers at Apple's Indian stores should not expect it. The report followed Apple opening App Store submissions for Duo apps, with Duo screenshots required for every submission from April 2027.

What to watch next

Confirmation from early US buyers that the greeting appears as described, and whether Apple extends it to more languages or countries.

Related on Gadgets365

• iPhone Duo price in India starts at Rs 2,99,900
• Apple says the iPhone Duo's folding display has a replaceable cover layer
• Apple opens iPhone Duo app submissions