CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Apple has unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, with sales set to begin October 23. The new model opens to a 7.6-inch inner screen and carries a 5.4-inch outer display. Apple says the larger panel offers the biggest screen yet on an iPhone. U.S. prices start at $1,999 for 256GB of storage. Preorders begin October 16 across more than 70 countries and regions.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone Duo is scheduled to reach stores on October 23. (Credit – Apple Inc.)
The iPhone Duo uses a book-style design with a precision hinge built from more than 100 components. Apple uses grade 5 titanium for the enclosure and Ceramic Shield materials on the exterior surfaces. The company gives the handset an IP68 rating for splash, water and dust resistance. Its inner display includes a nano-texture finish designed to reduce glare and reflections. Both displays support ProMotion, Always On features and peak outdoor brightness of 3,000 nits.
Photography centers on two 48-megapixel rear cameras covering main and ultra-wide shooting. The main camera supports full-resolution images, a 24-megapixel default setting and an optical-quality 2x telephoto option. Users can frame rear-camera selfies while viewing themselves on the outer screen. The outer display can also show subjects a live preview before a photo is taken. An under-display FaceTime camera remains hidden beneath the inner panel when users do not need it.
Foldable hardware adds new multitasking and performance features
Apple powers the iPhone Duo with the A20 Pro chip, also used in the iPhone 18 Pro models. The processor combines a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU and dual 16-core Neural Engine. A custom vapor chamber helps manage heat during demanding workloads. Apple places one battery on each side of the fold and manages them as a single power system. The company rates mixed use across both screens at up to 24 hours per charge.
Video playback reaches up to 31 hours on the inner screen and 44 hours on the outer display. Wired charging can reach 50% in about 20 minutes under Apple’s stated test conditions. MagSafe or Qi2 charging can reach the same level in about 30 minutes. The phone also supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread through Apple’s N1 wireless chip. Its C2 cellular modem supports mmWave in the United States, while the handset uses eSIM worldwide.
iOS 27 supports folding interface as October rollout approaches
Apple developed iOS 27 to adjust as users open, close, rotate or reposition the iPhone Duo. Split View allows two apps to run side by side on an iPhone for the first time. Users can also open two windows from one app and save preferred app pairs. Several interface controls move to the side of the larger screen to preserve vertical space. Apple plans Apple Pencil with USB-C support later in 2026. Siri AI begins its beta rollout with iOS 27 on September 14.
The iPhone Duo comes in star white and night sky with storage ranging from 256GB to 2TB. Apple will launch the device October 23 in markets including the UAE, United States, China, India and Japan. Another 28 countries and regions will receive it October 30. The handset will ship with iOS 27.1. Apple Upgrade, provided by Klarna in the United States, offers eligible customers leasing options. T-Mobile will support iPhone Handoff at launch for compatible U.S. customers.