Overview
- At its Sept. 9 event new CEO John Ternus introduced the iPhone Duo, confirmed a $1,999 starting price and said the device will begin shipping Oct. 23 with preorders opening Oct. 16.
- The Duo uses a 5.4-inch outer screen that opens to a 7.6-inch inner foldable display with a nano-texture matte finish, a titanium-reinforced hinge and an IP68 dust-and-water rating.
- Apple emphasized software and on-device AI as the device’s chief differentiators, citing a fold-aware version of iOS, features such as Smart Take and planned Apple Pencil support arriving in a later update.
- Early hands-on coverage praised the hardware finish and software polish but flagged trade-offs: Touch ID on the side replaces Face ID, cameras are not the Pro-level units, and many users say the control layout favors right-handed use.
- Rivals responded immediately—Samsung ran cheeky ads using a New Zealand man named Tim Cook—and analysts say high price and limited initial supply will cap early sales even if Apple’s entry boosts broader interest in foldables.