Finally, Apple enters the foldable arena! So eight years after Samsung and three years after Google, we finally get a foldable from Apple. The official name is the iPhone Duo, and not the iPhone Ultra, as the rumors suggested. Same as Microsoft’s short-lived foldable, the Surface Duo.
Apple made the thinnest iPhone, measuring in at 5.2 mm thick when unfolded. However, weighing 254 grams, it is mildly heavier than the 201-gram weight of Samsung’s passport book-style Galaxy Z Fold 8. The company took its time crafting its foldable to result in a minimal inner crease and a durable hinge.
It will also join Google’s Pixel 10 and 11 Pro Fold by offering an IP68 dust- and water-resistant coating. The Duo features a 5.4-inch OLED screen that expands to a 7.6-inch OLED display. Both displays offer Always-On, 120 Hz ProMotion, up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, an anti-reflective coating, and support for the Apple Pencil stylus, though the latter arrives later this year.
Inside, it’s powered by Apple’s newest A20 Pro processor for all of your computing, multitasking, and AI needs, and a C2 modem for clear calls. No Face ID is present due to its current design, so you’ll be left with a side-placed Touch ID for authentication and a power button. Also present are speakers on both the top and bottom of the device for spatial audio. On the battery side of things, the Duo offers up to 31 hours of video playback with it open, up to 44 hours of video playback with it closed, and up to 24 hours using both displays. Like the iPhone 18 Pro, it gets fast charging with up to 50% in 20 minutes and 50% in 30 minutes via a MagSafe or Qi2 charger up to 25W.
On the rear, it’s armed with a dual camera system with a 48MP main wide and a 48MP ultra-wide, a 12MP with 2x optical zoom, and a 12MP Center Stage selfie camera that’s under the display. It is also equipped with a Camera Control button for faster camera access. All of its shooters are capable of capturing 4K 120 fps video in Dolby Vision, applying cinematic effects in post, and taking time-lapses in 4K.
The Duo also takes advantage of its screen real estate to utilize features such as iPad-like multitasking, running apps side-by-side, and being used in any orientation. However, Apple placed the apps and taskbar on the right-hand side of the screen for easier access. Definitely curious to know why no other company thought of implementing this. The Duo also gets its own custom version of Standby to support its larger screen. It can also use the outer screen for previews when taking photos and video, allowing more people to join FaceTime calls with its outer screen and displays Peanuts animations to grab children’s attention for photos—like Google’s foldables.
The iPhone Duo will arrive in black and silver colors, starting at $2,000 for the 256GB model. Pre-orders begin on October 16 and go on sale on October 23. So now that it’s here, is it everything you wanted from Apple’s first foldable?
