Technology
oi-Gaurav Sharma
Apple has moved into the foldable smartphone category with the iPhone Duo, a book-style device designed to work as both a regular iPhone and a larger-screen mobile computer. Announced at the company’s “Surprise and Shine” keynote, the device opens into an iPad-like display for video, multitasking, games and creative work.
The iPhone Duo is expected to start at about $2,000 for the 256GB model, placing it firmly in the premium segment. Sales are expected to begin as early as October. The price makes clear that Apple is positioning its first foldable iPhone as a high-end product rather than a mass-market replacement for standard iPhone models.
Apple’s iPhone Duo is a new book-style foldable smartphone starting around $2,000, featuring a 7.8-inch inner display and 5.5-inch outer screen, designed for multitasking and creative work with seamless app continuity, expected to launch in October.
iPhone Duo brings Apple into the foldable phone market
The iPhone Duo uses a book-style folding design, similar in concept to rival foldables from Samsung, Google, OnePlus and others. When closed, it functions like a compact smartphone with an exterior OLED display. When opened, it reveals a larger folding OLED screen intended for apps, reading, browsing, video calls and split-screen work.
Apple says the inner display is the largest it has built for an iPhone. The open screen is described as 50 percent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max display and 80 percent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro’s screen. The larger panel is designed to work in both portrait and landscape modes.
The device reportedly has an exterior display of around 5.5 inches and an interior display of about 7.8 inches. That size puts it closer to a small tablet when unfolded, while still allowing the device to fold down into a pocketable shape. Apple has not yet published full exterior measurements.
What changes with the foldable iPhone experience
The biggest software change is continuity between the outer and inner screens. Apple says apps and content are designed to move naturally as the phone is opened or closed. Consistent aspect ratios are intended to reduce awkward resizing, a common issue on foldable devices where apps often struggle with changing screen shapes.
The foldable version of iOS 27 can show two Home Screens or run two apps side by side. Users can tap the divider between two apps to save them as a pair, allowing the same combination to be opened again later. This feature is likely to be useful for work, messaging, note-taking and research.
Apple has also added video pinning for the larger display. A video can stay at the top of the screen while another app remains open below. This creates a more flexible viewing setup for users who want to watch a match, follow a tutorial, attend a call or keep media playing while working in another app.
The iPhone Duo also supports Apple Pencil. That expands the device beyond regular phone tasks and gives users a more precise tool for handwriting, sketching, document markup and creative editing. It could make the Duo more appealing to students, designers, business users and people who currently move between an iPhone and an iPad.
Design, hinge and durability details
Apple says the Duo is built around a carefully controlled hinge that supports the middle of the display through the opening and closing movement. The company claims the interior screen has no visible crease. That claim will be closely watched, as crease visibility remains one of the most debated issues in foldable phones.
The FaceTime camera is hidden beneath the interior display, allowing the open screen to appear uninterrupted. The Duo can also stay open at different angles, which allows hands-free video viewing or video calls without a separate stand. When folded in another orientation, the lower half can work as a keyboard area.
Touch ID returns through the side button, giving users a way to unlock the device whether it is open or closed. The phone can also unlock with a connected Apple Watch. The authentication approach suggests Apple wanted a system that works reliably across both folded and unfolded modes.
For audio, the iPhone Duo has two speakers, one at the top and one at the bottom, with Spatial Audio support for films, music and games. Ceramic Shield is used for protection, while internal structural elements are designed to make the device feel firm during repeated folding and unfolding.
The device will be offered in Star White and Night Sky. Pre-launch reporting suggested a thickness of about 4.5mm when open and between 9mm and 9.5mm when folded. Apple has not confirmed the complete dimensions, weight or full durability rating in the available details.
Price may decide how widely the iPhone Duo sells
The foldable iPhone arrives in a category that has grown steadily but remains expensive. Foldables offer more screen space without carrying a separate tablet, but they also bring higher repair costs, hinge complexity and questions about long-term durability. Apple’s entry could make the category more mainstream, but the starting price will limit early adoption.
For Apple users, the iPhone Duo may appeal most to those who want one device for communication, entertainment, productivity and light creative work. Its success will depend on how well apps adapt, how durable the hinge feels in daily use and whether the larger display justifies the premium over Pro models.
The iPhone Duo marks Apple’s biggest design shift for the iPhone in years. Whether it becomes a major new chapter for the product line or remains a costly specialist device will become clearer once customers begin using it after the expected October launch.
