Apple's first folding iPhone, the Duo, has a 7.6-inch unfolding screen, and within a week several major apps including Instagram, Threads, Slack and Google updated to properly support its larger display and vertical layout. Full compatibility requires developers to target the iOS 27.1 SDK. The device launches seven years after Samsung's original Galaxy Fold, with an IP68 rating and a largely concealed crease thanks to its display design and matte nanotexture screen.
Apple told Reuters that only a limited number of iPhone Duo foldable phones will be available for walk-in customers at its stores when the device launches Friday, October 23rd. Online preorders for the $1,999 device, Apple's first foldable with a 5.4-inch outer and 7.6-inch inner display, sold out quickly, pushing some delivery estimates into next year. In some markets, including Japan, South Korea, and the UAE, customers can only obtain the device through a pickup reservation rather than walk-in purchase.
Serato released Serato DJ for iOS, bringing most of its flagship desktop DJ software's features to iPhone and iPad for the first time. The app supports stem separation, effects, EQ tools, BPM matching, key sync, cue points, recording, and compatibility with over 120 hardware controllers, plus Digital Vinyl Systems for scratching. Users can transfer libraries from Serato DJ 5.0 via USB-C or wirelessly, and the app costs $149 to buy outright or is included in a $14.99 monthly bundle with Serato DJ Pro and Studio.
The Verge's senior smartphone reviewer spent a week testing the iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable iPhone, alongside editor-in-chief Nilay Patel, and hosted a live Q&A session to field reader questions about the device. The published review already covered core functionality, but the reviewer noted there was more detail to share about how the device operates in daily use.
Apple has released the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, which uses a wide, passport-shaped design rather than the tall-and-narrow form factor most rival foldables have adopted since 2020. The review describes the device as a significant but unfinished first-generation product, aimed more at gadget enthusiasts than mainstream buyers.
A senior tech reviewer who tested the iPhone Duo for a week says the nano-texture matte finish on its 7.6-inch inner screen stands out as the device's strongest feature. She notes it reduces glare and improves readability compared with the glossy inner displays found on other book-style foldables she has used over the past five years.
An early hands-on report on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 notes that the device's display crease feels notably soft compared to the rest of the screen. The reviewer questions whether this softness is an intentional design trade-off or a potential durability issue.
Apple confirmed to CNET that the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, will ship on Oct. 23 running iOS 27.1 instead of the base iOS 27 version used on other iPhones. Apple says iOS 27.1 retains the iOS 27 foundation but adds features built specifically for the foldable design, while all iPhones will later receive iOS 27.2, whose release candidate arrived Oct. 19.
Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo lacks a telephoto lens, has a lower-resolution front camera than recent iPhones, and drops the variable aperture found on the iPhone 18 Pro. It also uses Touch ID on the side button instead of Face ID and omits the Action Button, while many third-party apps have yet to be updated for its foldable screen at launch.
Apple is preparing to release iOS 27.2 next week with updates to six built-in apps. Highlights include a revived 'Suggested Actions' feature in Messages, a new user-profile selector for the Apple TV app on iPhone and iPad, Group FaceTime support for Dual Capture's simultaneous front-and-rear camera feeds, and new smart-lock controls in the Home app including a 'Lock After Closing' option.
Apple released the iOS 27.2 release candidate on Oct. 19, over a month after iOS 27 launched. The build expands Siri AI beyond English into French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish, adds a FaceTime feature letting users run front and rear cameras simultaneously, and introduces a new Apple Music color scheme. Apple previously said the foldable iPhone Duo will launch Oct. 23 on iOS 27.1, with other devices able to update to 27.2 afterward.
A guide outlines several ways to boost performance on an aging iPhone, centered mainly on freeing up storage space. It recommends checking Settings > General > iPhone Storage to identify space hogs like photos, videos and messages, enabling iCloud Photos optimization to offload full-resolution images, and clearing Safari's stored website data.
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