Apple has announced the start of preorders for its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, on 16 October 2026. Sales will begin on 23 October at a price starting from $1999 for the version with 256 GB of storage.
The device is a book-style foldable phone with an outer display of 5,4 inches and an inner display of 7,6 inches when unfolded. Both displays have the same aspect ratio of 1:1,4, use Super Retina XDR technology with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a peak brightness of up to 3000 nits. When unfolded, the body is only 5,2 mm thick — the thinnest iPhone in the company's history.
The body is made of grade 5 titanium with a polish to a mirror shine, and is available in Star White and Night Sky. It has IP68 protection, a Touch ID scanner built into the side button, and it can also be unlocked using an Apple Watch. The hinge consists of more than 100 precision components and ensures smooth folding without a noticeable gap.
At its core is the A20 Pro chip with a vapor chamber cooling system. The dual battery provides up to 44 hours of video playback on the outer display, 31 hour on the inner one, and 24 hours with even use of both. The rear camera includes two 48 MP sensors (main and ultra-wide), while the front camera is 12 MP under the inner display. Apple Pencil support will arrive later this year.
Among the weak points are the weight of 254 g, which is 26 % more than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the absence of a telephoto lens, unlike the iPhone 18 Pro. The manufacturer did not disclose the exact battery capacity in mAh.
Compared with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (from $1899), the iPhone Duo is $100 more expensive, but cheaper than the Z Fold 8 Ultra ($2099). It offers better integration with the Apple ecosystem and a thinner body when unfolded, but it lags behind its competitors in weight and the presence of certain camera features.
For those who already use an iPhone and want a large screen without a separate tablet, the iPhone Duo will be a logical, albeit expensive, upgrade.
