Apple Just Announced the Foldable IPhone Duo.
Ever since Apple announced the date for its big September event , we’ve been expecting the company to unveil the “iPhone Ultra,” its first foldable smartphone. As it turns out, half of that prediction came true: while the company did indeed unveil the first iPhone that transforms from a smartphone to a tablet, it’s not actually called the Ultra. Instead, the company surprised everyone with a new name: iPhone Duo.
iPhone Duo: Design
Immediately noticeable is the iPhone Duo’s completely different design than any iPhone Apple has ever made. It’s a foldable device, meaning it has two functional displays, depending on how you use it. When closed, the Duo has a more unusual 5.4-inch display than you might be used to on an iPhone, but it’s fully functional. You don’t have to open the Duo to use it: you can send messages, browse Safari, play games, and do everything you normally do on your iPhone, all directly from the device. The front camera and two rear cameras allow you to take FaceTime calls, photos, and videos while the Duo is folded. If you never wanted to open your Duo, you probably never would have to.
However, when you open it, you’ll see a much larger 7.6-inch display. This is the beauty of foldable smartphones: you get access to a mini-tablet (sometimes called a “phablet”) at all times. The extra screen space allows you to view individual apps in a much larger window, as well as run two apps simultaneously. This is a first for any iPhone, even if it’s not a first for smartphones in general. And because it’s a tablet-like display, your home screen looks a bit more like an iPad, with additional widgets and a macOS-like Dock. The Dock even resides on the external display, and many controls are positioned to the right of the display for easy access with your thumb.
Interestingly, the Duo is the first iPhone in years to lack Face ID. Instead, the device marks the return of Touch ID, integrated into the side button. (It can also be unlocked with an Apple Watch.) It also supports the Apple Pencil for the first time on an iPhone and features dual batteries, providing 31 hours of video playback on the internal display and 44 hours on the external display. A charge of up to 50% lasts for 20 minutes, and a five-minute charge provides five hours of playback.
It works in a variety of positions: it can be positioned vertically like a tent, like a laptop, or folded slightly to separate the keyboard. It also functions as a standby device when folded on its side.
iPhone Duo: Processor
Like the iPhone 18 Pro , the iPhone Duo is equipped with the new Apple A20 Pro chip. However, in the Duo, this chip has a new GPU to drive both screens. Apple claims it delivers up to 35% faster performance than the iPhone 17 Pro. While I’m confident this is Apple’s fastest chip to date, we’ll have to wait for independent benchmarks to test it to see how much better it is than the A19 Pro. The Duo also features Apple’s proprietary C2 modem, which provides faster downloads and faster network reconnections.
iPhone Duo: Cameras
As noted above, the iPhone Duo has four cameras: two rear and two front-facing. Let’s start with the rear cameras: Apple has equipped it with a 48-megapixel Fusion lens and a 2x telephoto lens. The lack of an ultra-wide-angle lens may be a disappointment to some. At the same time, the Duo may not be the iPhone best suited for users who value mobile photography. It may be more like the iPad’s cameras: a useful feature, but not a key selling point. Like the 18 Pro, the Duo supports 4K time-lapse photography and new photo styles.
Perhaps even more importantly, the Duo has two front-facing cameras: one on the front display and one on the back display. This ensures you can make FaceTime calls and take selfies no matter how you hold the iPhone Duo. Importantly, the back camera is built into the display, so you never see it. Having two displays offers many benefits: the person you’re talking to can see themselves on the front display; you can mount the Duo like a tripod; and you can project FaceTime video calls onto both displays so everyone can see who you’re talking to.
iPhone Duo: Colors
Apple hasn’t experimented with the Duo’s color scheme. Buyers will only have two options: Starry White or Night Sky (a deep blue). This contrasts with the iPhone 18 Pro, which is available in four attractive colors. However, I suspect Apple doesn’t expect the color choice to impact Duo sales: buyers will either pay for the Duo or they won’t, and bright colors likely won’t matter in that context.
iPhone Duo: price
Apple’s first foldable iPhone certainly doesn’t come cheap. The official price of the iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, making it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever released. And yet, that doesn’t sound too bad: initial reports suggested the Duo would cost over $2,000, which seemed entirely plausible given how RAMaggedon has been raising prices on all sorts of tech.
However, the iPhone Duo can be more expensive. The 256GB model starts at $1,999, though models with up to 2TB of storage are also available.
iPhone Duo release date
While Apple announced the iPhone Duo today, it won’t go on sale immediately. Instead, the company says pre-orders will begin on October 16th, with sales beginning on October 23rd. While iPhone pre-orders typically generate a rush, I expect demand for the Duo to be historic. If you’re looking to get one as soon as possible, you should probably pre-order as soon as Apple allows it.