Apple introduced the iPhone Duo — the company’s first foldable smartphone
Apple officially unveiled iPhone Duo — the first foldable smartphone in its history. When unfolded, the device has the largest display among iPhones: the 7.6-inch internal display is about one and a half times larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. When folded, iPhone Duo is about the size of a passport, and its 5.4-inch external display occupies about 90 percent of the iPhone 18 Pro’s screen area. Both Super Retina XDR displays feature nano-texture coating that reduces glare and makes the crease almost invisible.
The body of the new product is made of grade 5 titanium with a mirror polish, and the hinge is assembled from more than a hundred parts and supports the center of the display. According to Apple, Ceramic Shield 2 on the external screen provides three times the scratch resistance, and the device itself is IP68 water and dust resistant. The iPhone Duo runs on the A20 Pro chip – the same as the iPhone 18 Pro models – and is equipped with a vapor chamber and a dual-battery architecture. The company claims a 35 percent increase in sustained performance compared to the iPhone 17 Pro.
One notable feature of the iPhone Duo is the abandonment of Face ID in favor of Touch ID built into the side button. This decision is explained by the design of the folding body: the fingerprint scanner is equally convenient in both open and folded states. Unlocking is also possible via Apple Watch.
The iPhone Duo camera includes a 48-megapixel main Fusion system with 2x telephoto optical quality and a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera — the same as in the iPhone 18 Pro. The foldable design allows taking selfies with the main cameras using the external screen for preview, and the Duo Preview feature shows the frame to people in the shot. Under the inner display is a hidden FaceTime front camera that is invisible when not in use.
iOS 27 is adapted to the new form factor: controls—dock, navigation, status bar—are shifted to the side panel to free up space for content. For the first time, the iPhone has a true Split View, allowing work with two applications simultaneously. There is also a StandBy mode that works even without charging, and support for Apple Pencil with USB-C—it will be added by the end of the year. Third-party developers, including Netflix, Zoom, and Slack, are already optimizing their apps for the foldable screen.
According to Apple, iPhone Duo will be available in two colors — “starlight white” and “night sky”. Pre-orders will open on October 16, with sales starting on October 23, 2026. The price is not disclosed at the time of announcement, but Apple CEO John Ternus called the device “the most significant change to iPhone since the original”, noting that it demonstrates the capabilities of tight hardware and software integration.
Primary source: www.apple.com ↗