Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the launch of the iPhone Duo, a new device that combines a traditional smartphone form factor with a large folding display.
The company unveiled the iPhone Duo on September 9, introducing what it describes as its first foldable iPhone and one of the biggest design changes in the product's history. The device starts at $1,999 in the United States, making it Apple's most expensive iPhone to date.
The launch marks a major shift for Apple, which has watched Samsung, Google, Huawei and other manufacturers develop foldable smartphones for several years. Apple is entering the category later than many of its rivals but is betting that its hardware, software and wider ecosystem can make foldable phones more mainstream.
iPhone Duo opens into a 7.6-inch display
The iPhone Duo uses a book-style folding design.
When closed, the phone has a 5.4-inch outer display and is roughly comparable in size to a passport. When opened, it reveals a 7.6-inch inner display, giving users a much larger workspace for watching videos, gaming, browsing the web and multitasking.
Apple says the inner display is 50% larger than the screen on the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Both displays use ProMotion technology, support Always-On functionality and can reach up to 3,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness.
Apple has also added a nano-texture finish to the inner screen. The company says the finish reduces glare and reflections while helping minimize the visibility of the display crease.
The two screens share the same aspect ratio, allowing content to transition between the folded and unfolded configurations without major changes in proportions.
A20 Pro chip powers the foldable
The iPhone Duo is powered by Apple's new A20 Pro chip, which is also used in the company's latest Pro models.
Apple has designed the phone with a custom thermal-management system and vapor chamber to help control heat during demanding tasks.
The device also uses a dual-battery architecture designed to provide all-day battery life despite the physical challenges of fitting components into a thin foldable body.
Apple says the unfolded phone is its thinnest iPhone ever.
The device is constructed using grade 5 titanium, while the inner display incorporates Apple's new folding-display technology and nano-texture surface.
Touch ID replaces Face ID
One of the most noticeable changes is Apple's decision to use Touch ID rather than Face ID on the iPhone Duo.
The fingerprint sensor is integrated into the side button, allowing users to authenticate the device whether it is open or closed.
Apple says users can also unlock the phone using an Apple Watch in supported situations.
The decision marks a departure from Apple's recent iPhone design philosophy, which has increasingly centered on Face ID and the Dynamic Island.
Apple has redesigned the Dynamic Island for the Duo so that it fits the vertical layout of the foldable displays.
Apple introduces new multitasking features
The larger screen allows Apple to introduce multitasking capabilities that have traditionally been associated with tablets and computers.
With the iPhone Duo open, users can run two apps side by side using Split View.
The phone can also display two windows from the same application, allowing users to perform tasks such as browsing two Safari windows simultaneously.
Apple says users can create pairs of applications for quicker access later.
The company has also optimized its own applications for the unusual screen configuration, while third-party developers can use Apple's updated software tools to adapt their apps.
Applications including Netflix, Zoom and Slack are already being optimized for the foldable format.
The result is intended to make the Duo function somewhere between a conventional smartphone and a small tablet.
Apple Pencil support is coming
Apple is also bringing Apple Pencil support to the iPhone Duo.
The company says support for Apple Pencil with USB-C will arrive later in the year, allowing users to take notes, sketch and mark up documents on either display.
That feature could make the Duo particularly attractive to professionals and users who want a larger screen without carrying a tablet.
The phone's larger display also gives users more room for documents, spreadsheets and other productivity applications.
Cameras receive foldable-specific features
Apple has equipped the Duo with two 48-megapixel rear cameras.
The system includes a 48MP Fusion Main camera and a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera, with the main camera benefiting from a new computational photography pipeline and sensor-shift optical image stabilization.
The folding design also allows Apple to introduce photography functions that are difficult to replicate on conventional smartphones.
One feature allows users to preview a selfie taken with the rear cameras on the phone's outer display.
Another, called Duo Preview, lets people being photographed see the camera's live preview so they can adjust their positioning.
Apple is also using on-device AI for a feature called Smart Take, which can automatically capture a photo when subjects are ready.
Apple Intelligence comes to the foldable
The iPhone Duo also places Apple's artificial intelligence strategy at the center of the device.
The phone runs iOS 27 and incorporates Apple Intelligence and Siri AI.
Apple says the new software has been redesigned around the foldable screen, with interface elements moving to make better use of the available vertical space.
Siri can also work alongside other content, allowing users to interact with the assistant while viewing information elsewhere on the screen.
The company is positioning these capabilities as part of a broader push toward AI-powered personal computing.
A major new product under CEO John Ternus
The iPhone Duo is also significant because it is one of the first major Apple products introduced under CEO John Ternus.
Ternus became Apple's chief executive on September 1, 2026, succeeding Tim Cook.
During the launch, Ternus described the Duo as the most transformational change to the iPhone since the original model.
His first major product presentation therefore places the foldable iPhone at the center of Apple's next phase.
The launch also signals a shift in Apple's hardware strategy as the company attempts to create new categories of products while maintaining its established iPhone ecosystem.
Price starts at $1,999
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the United States for the 256GB model.
Customers can choose from 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB storage configurations.
The high price makes the Duo significantly more expensive than Apple's conventional iPhone lineup.
That pricing could become one of the biggest tests for Apple's foldable strategy.
Reuters reported that analysts believe Apple could sell millions of units because of pent-up demand from existing iPhone users, but foldable phones remain a relatively small part of the overall smartphone market.
The company is therefore entering a market with considerable growth potential but still relatively limited mainstream adoption.
Pre-orders begin in October
Apple says pre-orders for the iPhone Duo will begin on October 16, with the device becoming available on October 23 in more than 70 countries and regions, including the United States, United Kingdom, China, India, Japan, Canada, Australia and the United Arab Emirates.
The device will reach an additional 28 countries and regions beginning October 30.
Apple is offering the Duo in two colors: Star White and Night Sky.
The company will also sell a dedicated iPhone Duo Case and an iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand.
Apple enters a crowded foldable market
Apple is entering the foldable market years after Samsung introduced its Galaxy Fold series.
Other manufacturers, particularly in China, have also developed increasingly sophisticated folding devices.
Samsung and Huawei have established strong positions in the category, while companies such as Xiaomi have continued experimenting with thinner and more advanced designs.
Apple's arrival could nevertheless change the market because of the company's enormous customer base.
Reuters reported that analysts expect Apple's entry to significantly increase attention around foldable smartphones, with some forecasts suggesting Apple could capture a substantial share of the market over the next several years.
The company's challenge will be convincing consumers that the additional cost and complexity of a foldable device provide enough practical benefits to justify the upgrade.
Apple is betting on more than the folding screen
The iPhone Duo's success may ultimately depend on how well Apple integrates the hardware with its software ecosystem.
Rather than simply offering a larger folding screen, Apple is emphasizing multitasking, AI, photography, Apple Pencil support and compatibility with the wider iPhone ecosystem.
That strategy reflects Apple's traditional approach to new products: combine hardware changes with software features that encourage users to remain within the company's ecosystem.
The Duo also gives Apple an opportunity to bring consumers who currently use conventional iPhones into a new premium category.
For Apple, the launch is about more than entering the foldable market. It is an attempt to define what a foldable iPhone should be and whether the category can move beyond expensive niche devices.
With a starting price of $1,999, the company is making a significant bet that consumers will pay a premium for a larger, more versatile iPhone experience.
