A personalized feature is reportedly in the works for shoppers buying the upcoming iPhone Duo at U.S. Apple retail locations. Reporting by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman indicates that store staff will have the ability to tailor the initial setup screen of the phone to show the purchaser’s name.
This capability will be restricted to the iPhone Duo, with language support limited to English and Spanish. The rollout arrives ahead of the product’s planned October 23, 2026 release date.
iPhone Duo to Greet Buyers by Name
Writing in an October 9 post on X, Gurman disclosed that U.S. Apple stores are preparing a mechanism to personalize the iPhone Duo’s startup screen.
Through this function, the phone can present a customized greeting featuring the owner’s name upon its initial power-up—displaying text such as “Hello, Mark,” for example.
Fun little touch for the iPhone Duo launch: Apple retail stores will have a system to customize the boot of the device with the buyer’s name so it says "Hello, Mark" (for example) when it turns on for the first time. (US only, Duo only, English and Spanish).
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) October 9, 2026
Gurman characterized the addition as a minor touch accompanying the iPhone Duo release. Nonetheless, the custom greeting is restricted strictly to U.S. retail outlets, the iPhone Duo model, and the English and Spanish languages.
Apple has not issued an official confirmation regarding the capability, nor has it detailed how shoppers can opt in or request it.
Will Apple Use its Presto System?
The exact method Apple intends to use for setting up the custom greeting is presently unknown. One potential avenue is the proprietary Presto system, which lets staff update sealed iPhones wirelessly in their boxes.
Initially brought to light by Gurman in 2023, Presto permits store employees to power up a boxed iPhone, apply software updates, and power it down again without opening the packaging.
Even so, Apple has yet to verify if Presto will facilitate the configuration of the iPhone Duo startup screen, or if an entirely different technology will be employed.
Also Read: iPhone Duo Leak Hints at New StandBy Faces, Apple Watch Features
iPhone Duo Pre-Orders Start October 16
Pre-orders for Apple’s iPhone Duo open on Friday, October 16, 2026. Official store availability and customer shipments are set to kick off on Friday, October 23.
Additionally, Apple stated that users can get ready for pre-orders starting on October 12, giving prospective purchasers a head start before orders officially open.
While this custom startup message provides an extra layer of personalization for direct store purchases, additional specifics concerning the function and its broader implementation remain unconfirmed.
