Apple today unveiled the iPhone Duo, introducing its first foldable iPhone and one of the most significant changes to the device since the original iPhone debuted nearly two decades ago. The new phone opens to reveal a 7.6-inch display — the largest ever offered on an iPhone — while folding down to a compact device with a 5.4-inch outer screen.
The iPhone Duo will start at $1,999, with preorders beginning October 16 and availability starting October 23. Apple is offering the device in Star White and Night Sky, with a grade 5 titanium frame and a precision hinge made from more than 100 components. Apple says the phone is its thinnest iPhone ever when opened and carries an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.
Apple also redesigned iOS 27 around the folding hardware. Opening the Duo expands apps onto the larger display, while Split View allows two apps to run side by side on an iPhone for the first time. Users can open two windows of the same app, save app pairs and move between the outer and inner displays as the software automatically adjusts. Netflix, Zoom and Slack are among the apps already being adapted for the new format.
The Duo is powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chip and introduces several features that distinguish it from conventional iPhones. Touch ID returns through a fingerprint sensor built into the side button, while Apple Pencil support is coming later this year. The inner display also hides its FaceTime camera beneath the screen when it isn’t being used, helping preserve an uninterrupted viewing area.
Apple is also using the folding design to reimagine photography and video. The Duo includes a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera and 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, while the outer display can serve as a live preview when someone else is taking your picture. Users can also prop the partially folded phone on a surface for hands-free photos, video and FaceTime calls without a separate stand.
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The iPhone Duo represents something Apple rarely does: introduce an entirely new way of using the iPhone. At $1,999, the Duo enters the market as a premium device, but its larger display, multitasking capabilities and ability to shift between phone and tablet-like experiences could reshape what consumers expect from an iPhone. After nearly two decades of the familiar slab-style design, Apple has opened a new chapter for the iPhone — and potentially reset the direction of the smartphone market.
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Related:
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Apple’s Foldable iPhone Is Finally Coming — Here’s What to Expect
