Apple on Wednesday unveiled the iPhone Duo, the company's first foldable phone, closing a years-long gap with rivals that have sold foldables since 2019. The device was the centerpiece of the Surprise and Shine event streamed from Apple Park, the first major hardware showcase under chief executive John Ternus.
The Duo opens book-style to a 7.8-inch display and closes to a pocket-size phone with a cover screen. Apple says the design allows iPad-style multitasking, with two apps running side by side. The phone runs on Apple's A20 Pro chip and carries dual 48-megapixel wide and ultrawide cameras. It uses Touch ID built into the side button rather than Face ID.
Price and availability
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the United States and will be available Oct. 23. Apple did not say when pre-orders open. Analysts will be watching whether the Duo broadens a market that remains small, and how buyers judge the durability of its folding screen and hinge after months of daily use.
The launch puts Apple into direct competition with folding phones from Samsung and others that have gone through several generations. Apple's version leans on its own silicon and tight integration between hardware and software, the same formula behind its other devices.
iPhone 18 Pro and AirPods 5
Alongside the Duo, Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Both use the A20 Pro chip with new CPU and GPU cores, a reworked camera system, and longer battery life, according to Apple. They ship with iOS 27 and come in Silver, Deep Black, Glacier and Burgundy.
Apple also refreshed its audio lineup with AirPods 5, powered by a new H3 chip. Apple says the new model delivers its best noise cancellation yet in an open-ear design, along with clearer call quality.
The event sets up Apple's biggest holiday lineup in years under its new chief executive. Investors and shoppers now wait to see whether the foldable Duo becomes a new product category for Apple or a niche device for early adopters.