Apple Unveils the iPhone Duo, Its First Foldable iPhone

Apple has officially entered the foldable-phone market with the iPhone Duo, a $1,999 device that represents the biggest redesign of the iPhone in years. Unveiled on September 9, the Duo folds like a book, offering a 5.4-inch outer display when closed and opening into a 7.6-inch inner screen — the largest display ever offered on an iPhone.

The launch puts Apple directly into competition with Samsung, Huawei and other manufacturers that have spent years developing foldable smartphones. Apple is arriving late to the category, but analysts believe its entry could finally push foldables into the mainstream. IDC expects Apple could capture around 40% of the foldable-phone market by the end of 2027.

Apple is positioning the Duo as more than a larger-screen phone. The device has been designed around productivity and multitasking, allowing users to run multiple apps simultaneously on the inner screen. Apple demonstrated use cases including larger Zoom calls, expanded Slack interfaces and other workflows intended to bring an iPad-like experience into a device that still fits in a pocket.

The Duo is powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chip and uses the company’s C2 modem. It features two 48-megapixel rear cameras, a titanium body, a custom hinge and a redesigned version of iOS 27 optimized for the folding display. Unlike Apple’s Pro iPhones, the Duo uses Touch ID in the side button rather than Face ID.

When opened, the device measures just 5.2mm thick, making it Apple’s thinnest iPhone in that configuration. Apple says the inner display uses a nano-texture finish designed to reduce glare and minimize the visibility of the fold. Battery life is rated at roughly 24 hours of mixed dual-screen use, while fast charging can bring the battery to 50% in around 20 minutes.

The $1,999 starting price makes the Duo Apple’s most expensive iPhone. The base model comes with 256GB of storage, with configurations extending as high as 2TB. Preorders begin on October 16 and sales start on October 23.

Its launch also marks a broader transition for Apple. The event was led by new CEO John Ternus following Tim Cook’s departure, making the Duo the centerpiece of the company’s first major product launch under new leadership. Apple simultaneously unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and new AirPods.

Perhaps the biggest question is whether Apple can do for foldable phones what it previously did for smartwatches and wireless earbuds: enter an established category relatively late, refine the experience and then bring it to a much larger audience.

Foldables still account for less than 5% of global smartphone sales. The iPhone Duo is Apple’s bet that the category is finally ready to become something more than a niche.