Apple enters foldable smartphone era with revolutionary iPhone Duo unveiled
Apple officially released its foldable smartphone (screenshot: Apple)
Apple has officially entered the era of foldable smartphones, unveiling the long-awaited iPhone Duo. The new device features a "passport-style" form factor, stylus support, and is the most expensive smartphone in the brand’s history, according to Apple's official presentation.
For a long time, insiders referred to the new device as the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra. However, during the presentation, Apple ultimately chose the name iPhone Duo.
The move looks bold, as competitors Microsoft and Google had already used the word "Duo" in their product names.
— John Ternus (@johnternus) September 9, 2026
Passport-style display and dropping Face ID
The hinge mechanism was designed so that the smartphone can reliably fold and unfold into a completely flat position, while a titanium frame was used to make the structure stronger and lighter.
The new iPhone Duo unfolds like a passport:
External display – when folded, the screen measures 5.4 inches diagonally. It supports StandBy mode even without being connected to a charger, continuously displaying the clock and other necessary information.
Internal display – when unfolded, users get the largest 7.6-inch screen in iPhone history, which is convenient to use in both portrait and landscape orientation.
Multitasking – the device supports Split View for simultaneously using two different apps or multiple windows of the same app, such as Safari, as well as iPad-style usage scenarios.
When unfolded, the controls and interface seamlessly transform between the screens.
.png)
Apple unveiled the foldable iPhone (screenshot: Apple)
Apple landed on the iPhone Duo name for the foldable iPhone and a $2,000 starting price, eating the additional memory costs. Storage capacities will reach 2 terabytes and roughly $3,000. It’ll ship in October, has support for the Apple Pencil and come in dark blue + white. https://t.co/58VLtVNka6
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) September 9, 2026
Due to the ultra-thin body, engineers had to abandon the Face ID facial recognition system – the camera module simply could not fit within the device's thickness. Instead, security is provided by Apple's proprietary Touch ID fingerprint scanner.
Adaptive interface and new usage scenarios
The large internal display area forced Apple to rethink how users interact with the mobile operating system.
To make the 7.6-inch display easier to operate with one hand, Cupertino developers moved the dock and menus to the side of the screen.
When unfolded, apps adapt to the tablet version of iPadOS: for example, Mail or Slack displays more side panels and details.
Users have, for the first time, the ability to resize windows of two apps "on the fly" and drag content between them, such as photos from the gallery into a messenger.
In addition, exclusive features for the dual-screen setup have been introduced:
- Camera – when photographing people, the external screen can display animations to attract children's attention;
- FaceTime – during video calls, the smartphone can simultaneously stream live video from the front and main cameras.
Pricing, configurations, and market positioning
Buyers will have to pay significantly more for the new format:
- The base 256 GB version will cost from $2,000;
- The top 2 TB configuration will cost $3,000.
Sales at official stores are scheduled to begin in October.
The iPhone Duo turned out to be more expensive than its closest competitors from Google and Samsung – the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Galaxy Fold 8 start at $1,899.
However, it remains cheaper than the premium Galaxy Fold 8 Ultra, which is priced at $2,099.
