Apple's $1,999 Foldable iPhone Duo Released — Takes Aim at Samsung

Apple has finally entered the foldable smartphone market, unveiling the iPhone Duo at its annual September event at Apple Park. Starting at $1,999, the device marks Apple's first radical redesign of its flagship handset in years — and a direct challenge to Samsung's dominance in the premium foldable segment. CEO John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook on September 1, called the device a "redefine[d] experience of using a foldable phone" .

CUPERTINO, California – After years of speculation and nearly a decade of rumors, Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market. The iPhone Duo, unveiled Wednesday at Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event, represents the company's most ambitious hardware redesign since the original iPhone .

The device is roughly the size and shape of a passport when folded . It features a 5.4-inch outer display for everyday use and unfolds to reveal a 7.6-inch inner display — 80% larger than the screen on the iPhone 18 Pro . Apple says the inner screen is 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max display . Both displays are Super Retina XDR OLED with ProMotion and up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness .

Price and Availability

Pre-orders open on October 16, with the device officially going on sale October 23 . The Duo comes in two colors: Star White and Night Sky .

A Polished First Attempt

Apple's entry into the foldable market comes seven years after Samsung pioneered the category with the original Galaxy Fold in 2019 . But Apple is betting that its meticulous engineering and ecosystem integration will make the Duo the device that finally brings foldables into the mainstream.

Apple has focused heavily on solving the foldable's biggest complaint: the display crease . The inner screen features a nano-texture matte finish that reduces glare and minimizes the visible crease. Early hands-on reports suggest the crease is "virtually invisible" when the screen is on . The Duo is also rated IP68 for dust and water resistance — beating Samsung to the punch on durability . The phone is 5.2mm thick when open and 11.3mm when closed, making it the thinnest iPhone Apple has ever made .

What's Inside

Performance: The Duo runs on Apple's new A20 Pro chip, the same silicon powering the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, with a 6-core CPU and 7-core GPU .

Battery: Apple claims up to 24 hours of mixed use, 31 hours of video playback on the inner display, and 44 hours on the outer display . A 60W USB-C adapter can reach 50% in about 20 minutes .

Cameras: The rear camera system includes a 48MP main sensor and a 48MP ultrawide sensor — but notably, there is no telephoto lens .

Authentication: Instead of Face ID, the Duo uses Touch ID integrated into the side power button, saving internal space for the folding components .

Apple Pencil Support: The Duo is the first iPhone to support the Apple Pencil, with compatibility arriving later this year .

A New Category, a New CEO

The launch is the first major product event under new CEO John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook on September 1 . In a video shown at the Steve Jobs Theater, Ternus said: "Others have created foldables that just feel like two phones awkwardly stuck together. We wanted a device with a large display that feels as natural and intuitive as an iPad" . He revived a phrase famously associated with Steve Jobs, declaring: "Actually, there is one more thing" before unveiling the Duo .

A Gamble in a Niche Market

Foldable smartphones remain a tiny fraction of the global market — less than 2% of shipments, according to IDC . Counterpoint Research forecasts cumulative worldwide shipments of foldables will exceed 100 million units by the end of 2026, and Apple could capture up to 25% of that market by year-end . IDC expects Apple to capture roughly a third of foldable demand after the Duo's release . But initial production may be limited: reports suggest Apple's contract manufacturers are producing only "a few hundred" devices per day due to high quality requirements .