Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, announcing a design that opens like a book into a wide canvas and folds into a compact outer device, the company said at a livestreamed event held at its Cupertino headquarters.
Chief Executive John Ternus described the product as having "the largest display ever on an iPhone" while still fitting easily in a pocket and said Apple took extra time to refine the concept rather than rush to market, according to the company and statements at the event.
Apple and its executives provided specific measurements and design notes. Greg Joswiak said the inner display measures 7.6 inches diagonally and is about 50 percent larger than the iPhone Pro Max, while the outer display is roughly 90 percent of an iPhone Pro surface area and measures about 5.4 inches closed.
The handset is built from grade 5 titanium, has speakers on top and bottom, and brings back Touch ID in the side button for authentication, Apple said. The iPhone Duo uses two batteries that operate as one and the company estimated up to 31 hours of inner display video playback, up to 44 hours on the outer display, and up to 24 hours when both screens are used equally.
Apple outlined a camera system tuned for the foldable form. The iPhone Duo includes a 48MP Fusion Main camera with an integrated optical quality 2x telephoto and a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera. New software features include Smart Take, Duo Preview, Kid Cue, and capabilities for 4K 120 frames per second recording in Dolby Vision, the company said.
Apple said the iPhone Duo will be sold starting at $1,999 with multiple storage tiers and will ship in two colors, star white and night sky. The device is available with iOS 27 and supports a new set of multitasking and display behaviors tailored to the foldable form, the company added.
Industry Context And Technical And Market Implications
Apple positioned the iPhone Duo as a platform for new software and camera experiences, and it said iOS 27 has been reimagined to adapt as the device folds, offers split view multitasking, and expands the Dynamic Island to the vertical edges of both screens.
The company highlighted A20 Pro performance and an advanced thermal system that connects the chip package to a custom vapor chamber, claiming improved sustained performance and upgraded neural engine throughput for on device AI, according to Apple.
Apple also described broader technical choices. The iPhone Duo is eSIM only worldwide, supports Wi Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 via a new N1 wireless chip, and uses C2 as its next generation cellular modem with mmWave support in the United States, the company said.
Reporters David Ingram and Ben Goggin noted the move places Apple directly into a category long led by Samsung and that global foldable shipments reached 19.6 million units in 2025. The reporting also noted Chinese rivals launched higher priced foldables, with examples at $2,980 and $3,725, underscoring different market approaches.
Apple emphasized durability and sustainability through materials and a complex hinge design, and it announced accessory and service options including a Folio with kickstand and AppleCare coverage. The company said developer tools and third party apps are already adapting to the foldable format.
