On 23 October 2026, Apple began sales of its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, in China. According to the blogger RD Observation, based on third-party sources, in the first four days (23–26 October) buyers purchased nearly 200 000 devices.
The model is equipped with a 7,6-inch internal LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a 5,4-inch external screen. When folded, the thickness is 11,3 mm; when unfolded, 5,2 mm, with a weight of 254 g. The smartphone is built on the A20 Pro chip with 12 GB of RAM and storage up to 2 TB. The main camera is a dual 48 MP setup (main and ultra-wide modules), and charging of up to 50 % in 20–30 minutes is supported.
The starting price in China is 15 999 yuan (about 2400 dollars) for the 256 GB version. During pre-order, demand exceeded supply, and resellers were asking premiums of thousands of yuan, but after the official start of sales, prices on third-party marketplaces declined — the base model was even offered for 200 yuan less than the official price. There were queues at Apple stores, but fewer than for the iPhone 18 Pro, due to the high price and the novelty of the form factor.
Compared with its predecessors in the lineup, the iPhone Duo stands out for its foldable design and increased screen area: the internal display is 50 % larger than that of the iPhone 18 Pro Max. TrendForce forecasts estimate shipments of the model in the first year at 5 million units — about 24,8 % of the global foldable smartphone market. Apple has already increased its production plans by 44 % — to 14 million units over 12 months.
Among the closest competitors are the Huawei Pura X Max (7 million devices on the first day of sales) and the Xiaomi 18 Fold (8 million in a week). The iPhone Duo, in four days, surpassed Huawei's weekly figures in the wide foldable segment, despite its higher price. However, some buyers note problems with the hinge and display, about which Apple has already issued a statement.
With a price starting at 15 999 yuan and limited initial supplies, 200 000 devices sold in four days confirm the high interest in the first foldable iPhone specifically in China.
