Apple's first foldable iPhone is here: meet the iPhone Duo
Apple has officially launched its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, priced at $1,999 for the 256GB base model — or £1,999 in the UK. Pre-orders open October 16, with units shipping October 23 across 70-plus countries. The move ends years of speculation and puts Apple in direct competition with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold lineup, seven years after Samsung first sold a foldable phone.
The hardware
Unfolded, the Duo reveals a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display that Apple describes as the thinnest inner screen ever put in an iPhone. A nano-texture coating reduces glare and makes the fold crease less visible. Close it and you get a 5.4-inch outer screen — Apple says it covers 90% of the display area of an iPhone 18 Pro, despite the different aspect ratio. Both screens support ProMotion adaptive refresh, Always On mode, and up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness.
The iPhone Duo's outer 5.4-inch display covers 90% of the iPhone 18 Pro's screen area.
The hinge uses more than 100 components, with carbon-fibre plates designed to keep the inner display flat. The body is polished Grade 5 titanium with IP68 dust and water resistance. Front and back panels use Ceramic Shield and Ceramic Shield 2 respectively for scratch resistance.
One notable omission: there is no Face ID. Apple instead uses Touch ID built into the side button, and the phone also unlocks via Apple Watch. A Camera Control button on the frame launches photography quickly and activates a new Siri Camera mode.
The performance and cameras
Inside sits Apple's 2nm A20 Pro chip, paired with the company's own C2 modem — which Apple claims delivers 50% faster downloads and 15% better energy efficiency than its predecessor. The dual-chamber battery is rated for up to 24 hours of use on the inner display, and a fast-charge session gets it to 50% in 20 minutes. MagSafe is supported.
The camera system is dual 48MP — a main Fusion sensor with sensor-shift optical stabilisation and zero shutter lag, plus a 48MP ultrawide. There is no dedicated 2x telephoto, which is a step down from the iPhone 18 Pro. A FaceTime camera sits under the inner display. Apple says the rear cameras can double as a higher-quality selfie setup when the phone is folded.
Software, colours, and the fine print
The Duo ships with a foldable-specific build of iOS 27, supporting two apps side by side on the inner display along with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI integration.
It comes in two finishes: star white and night sky.
The iPhone Duo is available in star white and night sky finishes.
Apple also offers a dedicated kickstand case for hands-free use.
Apple Pencil support is confirmed — but not for launch. It arrives "later in 2026," leaving a gap for anyone buying in October specifically for stylus use.
Storage tiers run from 256GB at $1,999 up to 2TB at $3,199 (US). The Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at around $1,899 in the US and £1,699 in the UK, making the Duo a meaningful premium. Whether the titanium build, Apple ecosystem integration, and eventual Pencil support justify that gap is a question buyers will have to answer for themselves.
