Seven years after foldable phones were first announced (and customers could actually buy them), Apple has finally stepped into the market with its first foldable phone. The iPhone Duo takes a moniker that it has used before, but more recently Microsoft used on its own “folding” phone, which wasn’t really a folding phone; instead, it was basically two phones with a hinge.
Apple has used the ‘Duo’ name before. Most recently, with the MagSafe Duo charger back in 2020, when MagSafe was first introduced on the iPhone 12. But it was also used in 1992 for the PowerBook Duo 210 and 230. So this is a name that Apple has used before, and now it’s being used again for its foldable phone. To be honest, it makes a lot more sense than the rumored ‘Ultra’ name did.
Similar to the recently announced Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Xiaomi 18 Fold, the iPhone Duo is also a short king.
Apple says that other foldables felt like two phones glued together, which wasn’t great for how we use phones. So, they started with the inner display being what they’d want to use. Essentially an iPad, and thus the iPhone Duo was born.
iPhone Duo brings back Touch ID
After nearly 10 years, the iPhone Duo brings Touch ID back to the iPhone. Which is what we expected to see with its first foldables, since Face ID would take up a good amount of space on that smaller screen. The power button sits on the side of the phone with Touch ID built in, like the iPad Air. The volume rocker is on the top of the phone. A bit strange, but because the iPhone Duo is fairly short, there’s not much space for the volume rocker on the side.
Apple is using a custom nano-texture finish on the iPhone Duo that reduces reflections and minimizes the visibility of creases. This doesn’t get rid of the crease, but it makes it much harder to see. Which is what we need to see.
They are also using a titanium plate beneath the display, as Samsung does, to improve durability. This also helps to eliminate the crease and any waviness.
Powering the iPhone Duo is the A20 Pro, and not an M-series chip like some were expecting. This is the 2nm chipset that is also powering the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Apple has also included a vapor chamber so the iPhone Duo can maintain sustained performance, paired with the Apple C2 modem.
Apple is claiming all-day battery life on the iPhone Duo, quoting 31 hours of video on the inner display and 44 hours on the outer display. This actually puts it at the same level as their slab phones. You can also get 50% charge in just 20 minutes.
Apple brings in most Android foldable features for the Duo
Of course, the big question mark with the iPhone Duo is the software, and Apple has opted to bring in many of the features we’ve already had on Android foldables. Like the ability to do split-screen and set them as pairs as well. You can use the phone in tent mode and even in flex mode. Something that Samsung decided to remove from the Galaxy Z Fold 8 this year.
Apple says that many apps are being updated for the new iPhone Duo. Including Slack, Spotify, and more.
iPhone Duo uses dual 48-megapixel cameras
With the iPhone Duo, we’re looking at dual 48-megapixel cameras on the back. That’s a 48-megapixel Fusion primary camera and a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera. Apple says that you can shoot at 4K 120fps on both of these cameras.
It also uses Center Stage selfie cameras on both displays. Apple has added dual-recording in FaceTime, so when you’re talking to someone, you can show both you and what you’re looking at. Which is really neat.
iPhone Duo pre-orders open on October 16
As expected, the iPhone Duo does ship a bit later than the regular iPhone 18 Pro models. With pre-orders opening on October 16, shipping will begin on October 23.
The iPhone Duo will be priced at $1,999 for 256GB of storage, with 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB of storage models available.
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