Apple has officially announced its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. The device, which has been rumored for years, has a passport form factor, two screens, a cutting-edge processor, and the integration of AI algorithms to operate two batteries as a single unit.
Apple has officially announced its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. The device, which has been rumored for years, has a passport form factor, two screens, a cutting-edge processor, and the integration of AI algorithms to operate two batteries as a single unit.
According to Apple representatives, the main goal was to create a device that expands capabilities while remaining convenient to use both in the open and closed state.
When folded, the device uses a 5.4-inch external screen, which provides 90% of the display area of the regular iPhone 18 Pro. When unfolded, the user gets a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display - it is 50% larger than the screen of the iPhone 18 Pro Max . The smartphone frame is made of polished titanium, and the back panel is covered with Ceramic Shield glass of the first and second generations, respectively. The gadget has an IP68 water and dust protection standard.
Apple paid special attention to the folding mechanism. The hinge consists of over 100 high-precision parts, and the base of the display is made of carbon plates for strength. The screen has a special multi-layer lamination with viscoelastic adhesive, which allows the layers to slide relative to each other (like pages in a book) - this prevents the display from warping. To reduce glare, a nano-textured coating created using laser lithography is used.
Due to the reduced thickness of the device, Apple had to abandon Face ID in favor of Touch ID, which is now integrated into the side power button.
The iOS software has been completely redesigned. The system instantly responds to tilt and orientation: the dock is now vertical, and applications move smoothly between screens. It supports working with two applications at the same time. In the semi-folded mode (like a laptop), the interface automatically shifts content away from the fold line, and the new Standby mode turns the gadget into a desk clock.
The iPhone Duo is powered by a new C2 chip that delivers 35% faster performance than last year's iPhone 17 Pro. It includes a new 5G mmWave modem and uses 15% less power.
The smartphone has two separate batteries (one in each half) that work as a single system. Thanks to this, the device provides up to 31 hours of video playback on the internal screen and 44 hours on the external screen. Fast charging allows you to recharge the battery by 50% in just 20 minutes. The smartphone will be released exclusively in the eSIM version.
The main camera consists of a 48MP Fusion module and an ultra-wide-angle lens (identical to the iPhone 18 Pro). The unique form factor allows the phone to be used as its own tripod for shooting time-lapses in 4K Dolby Vision HDR.
For video calls, there's a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with Center Stage on the outer display. There's also a second FaceTime camera hidden under the inner display. A new Smart Take feature uses AI to automatically take a photo when everyone in the frame is looking into the lens.
iPhone Duo will be available in two colors: Star White (white) and Night Sky (dark blue). The base version with 256 GB of storage will cost buyers $ 1999, and the maximum configuration will reach 2 TB. Pre-orders will start on October 16, and official sales will begin on October 23, 2026.
