After years (and years) of rumours, Apple’s first foldable smart phone is finally here
The tech giant’s new CEO, John Ternus, unveiled the highly anticipated iPhone Duo as “one more thing” at the end of the recent “Surprise and Sunshine” event. Foldable smartphones have been around since the Royole FlexPai went on sale in China in 2018 (the Samsung Fold followed the next year), but Apple’s first go at the form looks appealing enough to elevate it from its current niche position. Even if the Cupertino-based company delivers six million iPhone Duos before the end of the year, as is expected, that would increase foldables’ share of the smartphone market to just 25 percent, according to CNBC.
Here’s a closer look at the device Apple claims will be the “most transformational iPhone experience since the original” before it launches next month.
The largest display in iPhone history
The passport-sized iPhone Duo features two displays: an outer screen that measures 5.4 inches and a folding inner screen that measures 7.6 inches. The latter is easily the largest in iPhone history, offering 50 percent more visual real estate than the new iPhone 18 Pro Max’s 6.9-inch display. Both screens were designed around a consistent aspect ratio to make flipping from one to the next a fluid and intuitive experience. Its software, which will run iOS 27 at launch, was also designed alongside the hardware to maximise its usefulness in both landscape and portrait modes.
But won’t it crease?
If you’ve used a foldable, or known someone who does, you’ve seen the ugly crease that forms in the middle of its main display. Yes, the creases aren’t as prominent as they were at the end of last decade, but they’re still noticeable. Apple, though, thinks it can avoid this pitfall, which, one must assume, is why it has taken the iPhone Duo so long to get here. The inner paper-like display features a multi-layer lamination, a titanium plate, and a custom hinge that supports the center of the panel as it articulates. The crease will still be there, but Apple says it will be less noticeable on other foldables, something that initial impressions support.
Promising performance and features
All but a select few will have to wait until next month to try out the iPhone Duo, but Apple announced some promising performance and features to look forward to. The device is powered by the company’s new A20 chip and utilizes Apple’s first “dual battery system,” which features a total capacity of 5,400mAh. The company says the setup allows for 44 hours of video playback on the outer display, 31 hours on the inner display, and 24 hours for mixed use (scrolling through social media, messaging others, and taking photos and video). We’ll see if the company can actually deliver on these claims, though. The device will also feature four cameras: one on the outer display, another dedicated for FaceTime on the inner display, and a 48-megapixel Fusion camera and 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera on the rear of the device.
A phablet, but a versatile one
There’s no denying it: the iPhone Duo is a phablet. Rather than push back against this, Apple’s demonstration of the device touted its versatility. The company has already shared videos showing its latest smartphone used as a bedside alarm clock and a gaming device. The company even said that both of its outer and inner displays will be compatible with the USB-C Apple Pencil by the end of the year, a feature that is currently exclusive to the company’s tablets.
Pricing and availability
Unsurprisingly, Apple’s latest smartphone won’t come cheap. Pricing for the iPhone Duo, which comes in Star White or Night Sky, will start at US$1,999 for 256GB of space and go up to US$3,199 for 2TB of space. Pre-orders are set to open on Friday, 16 October 2026, before the device goes on sale on Friday, 23 October 2026.
Apple’s other announcements
The iPhone Duo may have stolen the show at Surprise and Sunshine, but it was far from the only device that Apple unveiled. During the event, Ternus also introduced the latest version of the company’s non-folding smartphone, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which start at US$1,199 and US$1,299 respectively. The executive also showed off the fifth iteration of the AirPods, along with the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.
This story was first published on Robb Report USA. Featured photo by Apple
