CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Apple unveiled its inaugural foldable device, the iPhone Duo, on Sept. 9, marking a new chapter for the company’s smartphone lineup. Priced starting at $1,999 in the US, the device features a 7.6-inch inner display when unfolded. When closed, it utilizes a 5.4-inch outer screen suitable for typical phone functions. Preorders will begin on Oct. 16, with stores opening to the public on Oct. 23. This launch introduces a novel form factor alongside Apple’s traditional smartphone designs.
Equipped with Super Retina XDR screens on both sides, the iPhone Duo supports ProMotion and Always-On features. Apple claims both screens can reach a peak outdoor brightness of 3,000 nits. The inner display is coated with a nano-texture finish to lessen glare and make the fold crease less noticeable, according to Apple. The device’s enclosure is crafted from Grade 5 titanium, and the precision hinge comprises over 100 components. Additionally, Apple grants the iPhone Duo an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.
The new iOS 27.1 software is designed to operate seamlessly whether the phone is open or closed. The introduction of Split View allows users to run two applications side by side, a first for the iPhone. It also enables opening two instances of the same app and saving app pairs for quick access later. The inner screen can display two Home Screen pages along with a vertically scrolling Today View. Touch ID is embedded in the side button and functions in both configurations, open or folded.
Foldable Hardware Merges with a Redesigned iOS Interface
Photography capabilities include a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera and a 48-megapixel Fusion Ultra Wide camera. The main sensor offers an optical-quality 2x telephoto zoom. Duo Preview provides a live camera feed on the outer display, so users can see what they’re capturing while someone else takes a photo. Selfies can be taken with the rear cameras while viewing oneself on the outer screen. The main camera also supports 4K video recording at up to 120 frames per second in Dolby Vision.
Powering the device is Apple’s A20 Pro chip, built with 2-nanometer process technology. This six-core CPU, seven-core GPU, and dual 16-core Neural Engine work together with a vapor chamber and dual batteries positioned on each side of the device. Apple estimates up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner display, which extends to 44 hours on the outer screen, and up to 24 hours with mixed use across both screens.
Pricing Details and Release Schedule for October
Available in star white and night sky, the iPhone Duo will be offered with four storage options: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. In the U.S.), prices start at $1,999, while in the UAE, it begins at AED 8,499. Customers across more than 70 countries and regions can begin preordering on Oct. 16. Apple plans to launch the device initially on Oct. 23, with a subsequent release in an additional 28 countries and regions on Oct. 30.
The iPhone Duo places Apple in the foldable smartphone market already occupied by several leading manufacturers. Its book-style design combines a traditional outer screen with a larger internal workspace, integrated with Apple’s processors, camera system, and software ecosystem. The device is designed with an eSIM-only configuration globally and supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. The Oct. 23 launch will deliver Apple’s first foldable iPhone to consumers roughly six weeks after it was first introduced.