Apple is preparing a small but personal surprise for customers purchasing its upcoming iPhone Duo in Apple Stores. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple retail employees in the United States will be able to customize the device's initial welcome screen to display the buyer's name when it powers on for the first time.

Instead of the usual “Hello” greeting, customers could see a personalized message such as “Hello, Mark,” giving the first startup experience a more personal touch.

iPhone Duo Gets a Personalized Welcome Screen

According to Gurman, Apple Stores in the U.S. will have a dedicated system for adding a customer's name to the iPhone Duo's boot-up screen.

The personalization feature will support English and Spanish, and is reportedly exclusive to the iPhone Duo at launch.

The option is expected to be available for customers purchasing the device in person at an Apple Store, as well as those ordering online for in-store pickup. Apple has not yet publicly detailed the full process.

While the change doesn't affect the device's hardware or core functionality, it adds a personalized element to the initial setup experience.

A Small Extra for Apple's First Foldable iPhone

Apple has traditionally used its “Hello” greeting as part of the iPhone's first-boot experience. Adding the buyer's name would give the iPhone Duo a slightly different welcome compared with other iPhone models.

The feature also provides Apple retail staff with another way to personalize the in-store purchasing experience. However, based on the current report, the option will be limited to U.S. Apple Stores and won't be available for every iPhone model.

iPhone Duo Pre-Orders and Release Date

Apple's iPhone Duo is scheduled to open for pre-orders on October 16 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, with the official launch set for October 23.

Pricing will start at $1,999, positioning the foldable iPhone at the premium end of Apple's smartphone lineup.

With the launch approaching, more details about the iPhone Duo's software features and retail experience are expected to emerge.

Source: Macrumors