CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Apple has introduced the iPhone Duo, the company’s first foldable iPhone, with U.S. pricing starting at $1,999. The device opens to reveal a 7.6-inch inner display and includes a 5.4-inch outer screen for one-handed use. Apple says the inner panel is the largest display offered on an iPhone. Preorders will open October 16, while retail availability begins October 23 in more than 70 countries and regions.
The iPhone Duo uses a folding design built around a precision hinge containing more than 100 components. Apple made the enclosure from grade 5 titanium and added Ceramic Shield protection to the exterior surfaces. The company rates the phone IP68 for resistance to dust and water under stated laboratory conditions. A nano-texture finish on the inner display reduces glare and reflections. Both screens support ProMotion, Always On functionality and up to 3,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness.
Apple has equipped the device with a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera and a 48-megapixel Fusion Ultra Wide camera. The main camera supports full-resolution photos, a 24-megapixel default mode and an optical-quality 2x telephoto option. Users can preview rear-camera selfies on the outer display and show subjects a live view before taking a picture. Apple CEO John Ternus presented the iPhone Duo as the company’s first entry into the foldable smartphone category.
Dual displays expand camera and multitasking options
The iPhone Duo runs on Apple’s A20 Pro processor, which also powers the iPhone 18 Pro models. The chip combines a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU and dual 16-core Neural Engine for on-device computing tasks. Apple pairs the processor with a custom vapor chamber that helps move heat away from key components. The phone also uses two batteries, with one placed on each side of the folding body. Apple lists up to 24 hours of mixed use across both displays.
Battery performance changes according to which display users choose most often. Apple rates video playback at up to 31 hours on the inner screen and 44 hours on the outer screen. Wired charging can reach 50% in about 20 minutes under the company’s specified testing conditions. Compatible MagSafe or Qi2 charging can reach the same level in about 30 minutes. The iPhone Duo also includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread support and an eSIM-only design worldwide.
iOS 27 brings split-screen tools and wider market launch
Apple tailored iOS 27 for the phone’s folding form and larger inner display. Split View lets users run two applications side by side on an iPhone for the first time. Users can also open two windows from the same app and save preferred app combinations for later use. The interface moves several controls to the side to preserve more vertical space for content. Apple says support for Apple Pencil with USB-C will arrive later in 2026.
The iPhone Duo will come in star white and night sky with four storage choices from 256GB to 2TB. Apple will start U.S. pricing at $1,999 for the 256GB model. Launch markets include the UAE, United States, China, India, Japan, Australia, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. Another 28 markets will receive the device on October 30. The phone will ship with iOS 27.1, while Siri AI begins a beta rollout with iOS 27 on September 14.