Apple Unveils iPhone Duo, Its First-Ever Foldable Smartphone
Apple has unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first-ever foldable smartphone, marking the company’s boldest iPhone redesign in nearly two decades and its biggest step yet into the premium foldable market.
CUPERTINO, California - Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone era with the launch of the iPhone Duo, a book-style device that unfolds into the largest display ever featured on an iPhone and signals a major strategic shift in the company’s hardware ambitions.
Revealed during Apple’s annual September product event, the iPhone Duo became the headline announcement of the company’s first major keynote under new Chief Executive John Ternus, who described the device as a reimagining of what an iPhone can be in the age of artificial intelligence and multitasking.
When folded, the iPhone Duo features a 5.4-inch external display for everyday use. Opening the device reveals a 7.6-inch internal screen, giving users a tablet-like workspace capable of running two applications simultaneously through an enhanced split-screen version of iOS. Apple says the redesigned software experience was built specifically for the foldable form factor rather than simply adapting the traditional iPhone interface.
The device is powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro processor, built on a 2-nanometre architecture and paired with an upgraded cooling system designed to improve graphics performance, battery efficiency and on-device AI processing. The Duo also introduces Apple’s latest C2 modem, supports the Apple Pencil and replaces Face ID with Touch ID integrated into the side button—a notable return of the fingerprint sensor for Apple’s flagship lineup.
Constructed from Grade 5 titanium, the iPhone Duo is Apple’s thinnest foldable device to date and will be available in Star White and Night Sky finishes. Storage options range from 256GB to 2TB, with a starting price of $1,999, making it the most expensive iPhone ever released. Pre-orders begin later this month, while commercial availability is scheduled for 23 October in key markets.
The launch places Apple directly into a foldable market that has been led for years by competitors including Samsung, Google and Huawei. Although foldable smartphones still account for less than five percent of global smartphone shipments, analysts view Apple’s entry as a potentially transformative moment because of the company’s influence over premium consumer electronics and its tightly integrated ecosystem.
Alongside the Duo, Apple also introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, featuring upgraded 48-megapixel camera systems, improved battery life and expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities focused on privacy. The event also included the debut of the Apple Watch Series 12, Watch Ultra 4 and a new generation of AirPods, underscoring Apple’s strategy of connecting AI experiences across its hardware ecosystem.
The iPhone Duo represents more than another flagship smartphone. It is Apple’s clearest signal that the next phase of mobile computing will be defined by larger adaptive displays, on-device artificial intelligence and devices that blur the line between phone and tablet. Whether consumers embrace the premium price will determine how quickly foldables move from a niche category to the mainstream, but Apple’s arrival has undoubtedly changed the competitive landscape.