Apple’s long-rumoured foldable phone is almost here. The iPhone Duo, unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro at Apple’s September 9 event in Cupertino, is scheduled to open for preorders on October 16 and reach stores on October 23 in about 70 countries and regions, with 28 more markets following on October 30. It starts at $1,999.
iPhone Duo at a glance
- Design: a book-style foldable with a titanium frame and IP68 water and dust resistance. Ceramic Shield 2 protects the inner display.
- Displays: a 5.4-inch outer screen and a 7.6-inch inner screen when unfolded, both with ProMotion and peak outdoor brightness of up to 3,000 nits. The inner panel uses a nano-texture finish to cut glare.
- Chip and memory: the 2-nanometre A20 Pro with vapour-chamber cooling and 12GB of RAM, with storage options of 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB.
- Cameras: 48-megapixel main and ultra-wide cameras, a 2x optical-quality telephoto option and 4K video at 120 frames per second. The 12-megapixel front camera sits under the inner display.
- Battery: a dual-battery system rated for up to 24 hours of mixed use, with a 50 percent charge in about 20 minutes on a compatible fast charger.
- Connectivity: Apple’s own C2 modem, the N1 wireless chip with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread, and USB-C.
- Software and colours: ships with iOS 27.1 in Star White and Night Sky.
The Duo will also support Apple’s $79 USB-C Apple Pencil, although that support will not be available at launch.
Where the iPhone 18 Pro fits
For buyers who do not need a folding screen, the iPhone 18 Pro ($1,199) and iPhone 18 Pro Max ($1,299) went on sale on September 18. Their headline changes include:
- The A20 Pro chip, which Apple says is up to 40 percent faster than last year’s A19 Pro.
- The first variable-aperture cameras on an iPhone, with a new aperture control in the Camera app.
- A smaller Dynamic Island on 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays.
- Apple’s C2 modem on the Pro, while the Pro Max uses a Qualcomm modem in the US and the C2 elsewhere.
Should you wait for the Duo?
The Duo is aimed at people who want a phone that turns into a small tablet for reading, multitasking and video. The trade-offs are price and the usual unknowns of a first-generation design, including long-term durability of the hinge and crease. Rising memory chip costs have pushed up device prices across the industry this year, so discounts may be limited in the short term.
If you mainly care about cameras and performance, the iPhone 18 Pro delivers the same flagship chip for $800 less. If a larger screen in a pocketable body is the priority, the Duo is Apple’s most interesting hardware in years.
Key dates
- October 16: iPhone Duo preorders open.
- October 23: availability in about 70 countries and regions.
- October 30: launch in 28 additional markets.
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