Apple has finally stepped into the foldable phone race, but it has not simply created an iPhone that bends. The new iPhone Duo is designed to blur the line between a smartphone and a small tablet, raising a bigger question about whether this could become the iPhone design that defines Apple’s next era. Alongside the foldable, Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, new Apple Watches and updated AirPods.
• Apple has launched its first foldable iPhone
• The iPhone 18 Pro lineup also debuted
• New Apple Watches and AirPods joined the launch
The iPhone Duo uses a book-style design with a 7.6-inch Super Retina display when opened and a 5.4-inch outer screen when closed. It measures just 5.2mm at its thinnest point when unfolded and weighs 254 grams. Both displays support Apple Pencil input, while the main screen uses an under-display camera to eliminate a notch. The phone comes in Star White and Night Sky and is powered by the same A20 Pro chip found in the iPhone 18 Pro models.
• 7.6-inch main display and 5.4-inch outer screen
• 5.2mm thin when unfolded
• A20 Pro chip and under-display camera
Apple has also focused heavily on durability. The iPhone Duo carries an IP68 rating and features a titanium frame, carbon-fibre support plates around the hinge and a scratch-resistant display coating. It drops Face ID in favour of Touch ID built into the side button. The foldable also includes a 48MP main camera and 48MP ultrawide camera, with features designed around its ability to stand on its own and let people preview a shot from the other side of the phone.
• IP68 water and dust resistance
• Touch ID replaces Face ID
• Dual 48MP rear cameras with foldable-specific features
The software is built around the Duo’s unusual shape. Users can run two apps side by side on the larger display, including two instances of the same app, while Apple has redesigned parts of its interface to make better use of the available space. StandBy works on either screen, and the phone supports MagSafe and Qi2 charging. Apple claims up to 44 hours of video playback using the outer display, although using both screens equally reduces that figure to around 24 hours.
• Multitasking is built into the large display
• StandBy works on both screens
• Up to 44 hours of video playback on the outer display
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 with 256GB of storage, while the 2TB model reaches $3,199. Pre-orders open October 16, with sales beginning October 23. Apple also raised the prices of some older iPhones by $100, citing memory and storage supply pressures. The launch marks a major shift for Apple, bringing its first foldable into the iPhone family while introducing a new generation of devices built around its redesigned Siri AI experience.
• Prices start at $1,999
• Pre-orders begin October 16
• The foldable arrives October 23
Via: Engadget
