iPhone Duo: Apple Unveils its First Foldable Phone

Speculation about Apple’s foldable phone began roughly seven years ago, when Samsung released the Samsung Galaxy Fold. Apple’s foldable phone is no longer just internet banter and rumors; it is finally a soon-to-be-purchasable device.

Apple announced the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, on September 9.

Apple’s First Foldable Phone

When the Duo is folded closed, it has a 5.4-inch screen, slightly smaller than the screens of most standard iPhones. When the phone is unfolded, the screen increases to 7.6 inches, slightly smaller than an iPad mini. According to Apple, regardless of which screen you are looking at, both screens have the same aspect ratio, meaning apps scale naturally between the two displays.

“iPhone Duo is the most transformational change to iPhone since the original,” John Ternus, Apple’s CEO, said in an announcement that outlined all of the device’s features. “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.”

Ternus added, “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.”

Built to Bend

Folding phones require high-quality hardware to bend. Apple states that the Duo was built with over 100 parts to control movement and support the screen precisely. The frame was built from grade 5 titanium for strength and reinforced with internal support ribs and ceramic fiber inserts.

A folding screen is incredibly difficult to achieve, but Apple claims it has cracked the code with a custom polymer and layers of high-strength glass. According to the company, the layers are held together by custom adhesives to relieve stress when the glass is bent. The phone also has a titanium plate at the bottom for more durability. In addition to its strength, the Duo is splash, water, and dust-resistant.

Under the Glass

One of the foldable iPhone’s most promising features, aside from its folding capabilities, is the inner screen. With a matte nano-texture finish, the screen reduces glare and makes the crease less visible. However, it will be interesting to see how long that remains the case after folding the phone thousands of times over the course of a year.

The new A20 Pro chip powers everything on iOS 27, which includes Apple Intelligence and Siri AI. Apple also added a custom vapor chamber and a dual-battery setup to manage heat and battery life.

You can get the iPhone Duo in star white or night sky. Pre-orders start on Friday, October 16, and it comes out on Friday, October 23.

The iPhone Duo starts at a staggering $1,999.