Apple Unveils First Foldable iPhone

Apple has officially announced the iPhone Duo, marking the company's entry into the foldable smartphone market and introducing its most significant iPhone design change in nearly two decades.

Unveiled by new Apple CEO John Ternus at the company's California headquarters, the device features a passport-sized form factor when closed and opens to reveal a 7.6-inch inner display, which is the largest display ever on an iPhone.

"iPhone Duo is the most transformational change to iPhone since the original. With an entirely new design and intuitive experiences, it shows what’s possible when hardware and software are engineered together and redefines what it means to use a foldable phone," said John Ternus, Apple’s CEO.

 "With the largest display ever on iPhone that still fits easily in your pocket, combined with the power of A20 Pro, iPhone Duo helps you stay more immersed and productive wherever you go, whether you’re enjoying content, multitasking across apps, or gaming."

"Others have created foldables that just feel like two phones awkwardly stuck together."

"It's entirely new and at the same time remarkably familiar. A similar size to your passport, it feels familiar to hold and comfortable to use with one hand."

Hardware Engineering and Display Features

The device incorporates a custom 3D-printed hinge mechanism built from over 100 individual components, paired with a Grade 5 titanium frame and Ceramic Shield glass protection.

When folded, the 5.4-inch outer display provides 90 percent of the screen area of the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro. Unfolded, the 7.6-inch main display features a nano-texture matte surface designed to minimize reflections and obscure the center crease. Below the primary inner panel, a hidden FaceTime camera stays concealed when not in use.

The device is powered by the A20 Pro processor and features a dual-battery layout built to deliver all-day endurance, providing up to 31 hours of video playback on the main inner screen and up to 44 hours on the cover screen. Additionally, the model is built with eSIM-only support globally, omitting traditional physical SIM trays.

Tailored iOS 27 Software and AI Features

Apple's newly tailored iOS 27 system introduces dedicated multitasking options for the foldable display, including Split View, which permits users to run two applications simultaneously or view dual windows of a single app side-by-side.

The iPhone Duo is deeply integrated with Apple Intelligence and the updated Siri AI assistant, enabling contextual tasks across email, messaging, and web browsing.

Regarding user privacy and data security, Ternus stated that Apple would be making use of  "the most private details of your daily life."

"Others see that data as something to collect and store", Ternus said. "Here, not even Apple can access what's yours."

Pricing, Availability, and Market Context

Prices for the iPhone Duo start at $1,999 (£1,476) in the US and go up to $3,200 for higher storage configurations. Pre-orders begin Friday, October 16th, with store availability starting Friday, October 23rd.

Alongside the foldable model, Apple also announced the iPhone 18 Pro ($1,199) and iPhone 18 Pro Max ($1,299), which will be available for pre-order starting September 12th.

Industry analysts note that while the foldable smartphone sector remains a niche segment accounting for roughly 2% to 5% of global market sales, Apple's late entry mirrors its historical strategy of refining existing market categories.