Apple entered the foldable smartphone market Wednesday, unveiling the iPhone Duo, its first device featuring a foldable design, at the tech giant's annual hardware event in California.
"iPhone Duo is unlike any iPhone you've experienced before,” the voiceover in the official Apple presentation package announced.
The tech giant confirmed the device features an asymmetric design that unfolds into a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR inner display. Apple stated that this inner screen is 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max and 80% larger than the standard Pro model, both of which were also showcased during the event.
In a detailed technical breakdown, Apple announced that the iPhone Duo’s outer screen provides a 5.4-inch viewing area. The company explained that both screens utilize liquid glass to fluidly adapt to the aspect ratio. Furthermore, Apple revealed that the device features a custom nano-texture finish specifically engineered to reduce glare, reflections, and the visibility of the display crease.
Performance-wise, Apple confirmed the device is powered by the new A20 Pro chip, delivering up to 35% higher sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro. To manage the thermal requirements of on-device artificial intelligence, Apple said it designed a thermal architecture and an integrated vapor chamber for sustained performance during high-frame-rate gaming. Connectivity is driven by Apple's custom C2 cellular modem, which the company claims provides 50% faster uploads and 15% better energy efficiency compared to previous hardware.
The device is eSIM-only worldwide, allowing Apple to maximize internal space for a dual-battery architecture that delivers up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner display.
When fully opened, the device is billed as the thinnest iPhone ever produced, utilizing an aerospace-grade titanium frame to maintain structural strength.
Apple also unveiled a sophisticated camera system, featuring a 48-megapixel Fusion main camera with zero shutter lag. The company announced that the iPhone Duo supports 4K 120 fps video and 4K Dolby Vision HDR time-lapses. For durability, Apple confirmed the device is IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, and utilizes Ceramic Shield 2 on the front display for enhanced scratch protection.
Pricing starts at $1,999 with storage options up to 2TB, the iPhone Duo will be available for pre-order Oct. 16, with retail availability following Oct. 23.
