Apple Enters Foldable Phone Market With $1,999 iPhone Duo.
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Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the debut of the $1,999 iPhone Duo, marking the most radical hardware redesign in the iPhone's history. Unveiled during Apple's flagship autumn event—the first major hardware showcase led by new CEO John Ternus—the passport-shaped device features a book-style hinge mechanism that unfolds into an expansive 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR inner display alongside a compact 5.4-inch outer screen. Built with a grade-5 mirror-finished titanium chassis, a custom-engineered dual-battery architecture, and a near-invisible screen crease, the Duo is powered by the cutting-edge 2nm A20 Pro chip and the proprietary C2 cellular modem. Positioned as both a pocket-friendly communicator and an enterprise-grade productivity device, the iPhone Duo supports advanced multitasking layouts across applications like Zoom and Slack, as well as upcoming Apple Pencil compatibility. Starting at $1,999 for the base 256GB variant, the device anchors Apple's direct challenge to established foldable competitors like Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi.
Apple has entered the foldable smartphone market with the launch of the $1,999 iPhone Duo, a passport-shaped device that opens into a larger 7.6-inch display, marking the company’s biggest change to the iPhone’s form factor in years.
The Duo is designed as a book-style foldable, with a smaller screen available when closed and a larger display when unfolded. Apple said the device is its thinnest iPhone when opened, while its compact shape is intended to retain portability.
The smartphone is powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chip and features the company’s new C2 modem. It also uses a titanium body and a redesigned hinge, with Apple focusing on durability and a reduced crease on the folding display.
Apple has positioned the Duo not only as a smartphone but also as a productivity device. Its larger screen supports multitasking and multiple application windows, allowing users to work across apps such as Zoom and Slack.
The launch puts Apple directly into competition with established foldable-phone makers including Samsung, Huawei and Xiaomi. Analysts expect Apple’s entry to accelerate adoption of foldable devices, a category that has so far remained a relatively small portion of the overall smartphone market.
The iPhone Duo will start at $1,999, making it the most expensive iPhone in Apple’s lineup. Pre-orders are scheduled to begin on October 16, with retail availability from October 23.
Apple also unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max alongside the foldable model, with upgraded cameras, processing performance and battery capabilities. The event marked the first major iPhone launch under new CEO John Ternus.
