Apple unveils its first foldable phone, the $1,999 iPhone Duo

US tech company Apple has unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. The device was shown at the company's first launch event under new CEO John Ternus. Preorders opened on October 16, and the phone goes on sale in stores on October 23. The launch matters because Apple is entering the foldable market after its rivals: the first Samsung Galaxy Fold reached shoppers more than seven years ago.

Design and specifications

The phone has a 5.4-inch outer screen that unfolds into a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR inner display. Both screens share the same aspect ratio, giving the device a passport-like shape. The inner display has a matte finish, and its crease is almost impossible to feel with a finger. The phone is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance.

The Duo has no Face ID facial recognition; authentication relies on a Touch ID fingerprint sensor on the edge. It uses the same A20 Pro chipset as the iPhone 18 Pro, along with a 48-megapixel camera that lacks variable aperture. Like the iPhone Air, it is eSIM-only worldwide. Apple Pencil support is due later this year.

Price and demand

Prices start at $1,999 for 256GB of storage, with a maximum of 2TB. That is $100 more than Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 and $100 less than the Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Apple said preorder demand has been extraordinary. Delivery estimates slipped into next year in less than an hour, and its website now shows late January dates. The company did not say whether stock will be available in stores for those who missed out on preorders.

Repairs without AppleCare Plus, Apple's paid extended coverage plan, are costly: battery service is $229, inner display damage is $999, and other damage is $1,499. The phone runs iOS 27, whose controls and apps have been reworked for the larger screen.