CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo on Sept. 9, marking the company’s debut into the foldable smartphone segment. Priced from $1,999 in the U.S., this device unfolds to reveal a 7.6-inch interior screen. When folded, it features a 5.4-inch outer display designed for regular phone functions. Preorders will open on Oct. 16, with the device reaching stores on Oct. 23. This launch introduces a new iPhone design philosophy alongside Apple’s traditional lineup of smartphones.
Equipped with Super Retina XDR displays on both sides, the iPhone Duo supports ProMotion and Always-On functionalities. Apple states that both screens can reach a peak outdoor brightness of 3,000 nits. The inner display has a nano-texture coating to minimize glare and conceal the fold crease, according to Apple. The enclosure is constructed from Grade 5 titanium, with a precision hinge made of over 100 components. Additionally, Apple grants the iPhone Duo an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.
iOS 27.1 has been tailored specifically to operate seamlessly whether the device is open or closed. The Split View feature allows users to run two applications side by side—a first for the iPhone. Furthermore, users can open two windows of a single app and save app pairs for future use. The inner screen can display two Home Screen pages along with a vertically scrollable Today View. Touch ID is integrated into the side button and functions regardless of the device’s folded state.
Foldable device integrates with a revamped iOS interface
Photography capabilities include a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera and a 48-megapixel Fusion Ultra Wide camera. The main camera also offers an optical-quality 2x telephoto option. Duo Preview provides a live view from the rear camera on the outer display while a photo is being taken. Users can also take selfies using the rear cameras and view themselves on the outer screen simultaneously. The primary camera supports 4K video recording at up to 120 frames per second in Dolby Vision.
Powering the iPhone Duo is Apple’s A20 Pro chip, fabricated with 2-nanometer process technology. The processor features a six-core CPU, a seven-core GPU, and dual 16-core Neural Engines. Apple pairs it with a vapor chamber cooling system and batteries on both sides of the device. The company estimates up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner screen, while the outer display can last up to 44 hours, with mixed usage providing approximately 24 hours of battery life.
Pricing details and market release scheduled for October
The iPhone Duo will be available in star white and night sky colors, offering four storage options: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. In the U.S.), prices start at $1,999, while in the UAE, the starting price is AED 8,499. Customers in over 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 positions Apple within the foldable smartphone market, which is already populated by several prominent manufacturers. Its book-style design merges a traditional outer screen with a larger internal workspace, integrating Apple’s own processors, camera system, software, and services. The device features an eSIM-only configuration worldwide and supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. The Oct. 23 release will see Apple’s first foldable iPhone in users’ hands roughly six weeks after its official reveal.