Apple has unveiled its first foldable smartphone — the iPhone Duo. The presentation took place in Cupertino at the Surprise and Shine event and became the first major product launch under the leadership of the company’s new CEO, John Ternus, who succeeded Tim Cook on September 1.

The key feature of the iPhone Duo is its wide foldable body: when unfolded, the smartphone transforms into a device with a screen comparable in size to a small tablet. Sales of the new device will begin on October 23, and pre-orders will open on October 16. The price starts at $1,999.

Two displays and a wide foldable body

The internal Retina display of the iPhone Duo has a diagonal of 7.6 inches, while the external screen measures 5.4 inches. When unfolded, the device resembles a compact iPad. Apple emphasizes that this is the thinnest iPhone in the company’s history.

Unlike the first foldable smartphones, which were more often elongated vertical devices, Apple chose a wider form factor. It is intended to provide a more convenient aspect ratio for watching videos and using apps.

When closed, the external screen occupies about 90% of the display area of the iPhone 18 Pro. The company positions Duo as a smartphone compact enough for a pocket that can, when needed, be turned into a device with a large working area.

At the same time, Apple has abandoned Face ID. Touch ID is used for unlocking. The smartphone can also be unlocked using an Apple Watch.

iOS 27 adapted for a foldable display

For the iPhone Duo, Apple redesigned the iOS 27 interface. System control elements, including Wi‑Fi settings, have been moved to the side of the screen, and the vertical home screen layout has been made more suitable for the foldable format.

Users will be able to run two apps simultaneously and place them side by side. In vertical mode, for example, a video can be pinned to the upper part of the display while another app is opened below.

The smartphone can also be used in a half-open position or placed on a table. This makes it possible to watch videos without having to hold the device in your hands, and also to use Duo as a kind of mini laptop or desktop screen.

Apple said that some third-party apps already take advantage of the foldable display’s capabilities. Among them, the company named Netflix, Zoom, and Slack. For developers, Apple is releasing special software tools that will make it possible to create new apps for Duo or adapt existing ones.

John Ternus’s first major product

The presentation of the iPhone Duo became the first launch of a new Apple flagship device under the leadership of John Ternus. Before being appointed CEO, he headed the company’s hardware engineering division.

Ternus said that many competitors’ foldable smartphones look like two phones connected together. According to him, the iPhone Duo should become the most significant change in the iPhone lineup since the debut of the original model.

Apple also presented Duo as an example of the close integration of hardware and software. The company claims that it was the joint development of the body, display, and iOS that made it possible to create new use cases for a foldable device.

Apple enters a market where competitors already exist

Samsung and Xiaomi released wide foldable smartphones even before the arrival of the iPhone Duo. Apple is entering this market later; however, its participation could significantly increase consumer interest in the form factor.

According to data from the analytics company Counterpoint, foldable devices still account for less than 2% of total smartphone shipments. At the same time, analysts believe that the iPhone Duo could quickly capture a significant share of the segment — up to 25% of the foldable smartphone market by the end of the year.

Apple has not yet disclosed all the technical specifications of the new device, including battery capacity and details about the cameras. It is known that the iPhone Duo will be available in two colors — Star White and Night Sky. Built-in storage will range from 256 GB to 2 TB.

Price and availability

The price of the iPhone Duo starts at $1,999. Pre-orders in the United States will open on October 16, and shipments will begin on October 23.

The launch took place exactly seven years after Samsung began sales of its first foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, in September 2019.