Apple will let customers try its new foldable iPhone, the Duo, in stores starting Friday, after last week's preorder window closed for anyone who missed it. CNET outlines several things shoppers should test in-store, including the unfolding animation, the display's matte finish and its minimal crease, before committing to the roughly $2,000 device.
Early reviews of Apple's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, converge on a consistent set of findings. Critics call it the best foldable phone currently available, while flagging a visible and tangible crease, lagging third-party app support for the inner screen, and a design better suited to people who plan to use the unfolded display often rather than occasionally.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is now listed at 33% off its retail price on Amazon, marking the lowest price the foldable device has reached since launch. The $655 discount applies to the premium handset, according to the pricing reported by the retailer.
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 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.
Following Samsung's July Unpacked launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, some buyers say apps don't properly scale to the device's 4:3 internal screen despite the phone's App Continuity feature meant to ease transitions between displays. Users have been discussing workarounds on online forums to address the sizing glitches.
Apple's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, saw preorders open Friday with delivery estimates for some US online orders now pushed back to January 2027. Apple told CNBC demand has been "nothing short of extraordinary" and said it is working to fulfill orders as quickly as possible while continuing to accept them online. Customer reports vary widely, with some seeing in-store pickup as early as October 23 and others getting November or December shipping windows, while Best Buy currently lists November estimates.
Apple has launched its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, featuring a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner display with a nano-texture finish and minimal crease. The device drops Face ID in favor of Touch ID on the power button, includes dual rear cameras, and runs a redesigned version of iOS 27 built around the folding form factor. Pricing starts at $1,999 for the base 256GB model.
Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, went up for preorder Friday starting at $1,999 and exceeding $3,000 for the 2TB model. Apple said demand was 'extraordinary,' with launch-day pickup inventory gone and some online delivery dates pushed into late January.
Apple opened preorders for the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, on Friday at 5 a.m. PT. Preordered units are now backordered until January 29, even though the phone officially launches October 23 and will be available in stores that day. The device starts at $1,999 and features a 7.6-inch inner display, a 5.4-inch outer screen, dual 48-megapixel cameras, and Apple Pencil support.
Apple's foldable iPhone Duo became available for pre-order at 8AM ET, with general availability starting October 23rd. The device features a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner OLED screen, but starts at $2,000 and lacks Face ID and the variable aperture camera found on the iPhone 18 Pro models.
Apple's foldable iPhone Duo, priced from $1999 to $3199, features an inner display cover that can be peeled off and replaced once creasing becomes visible, hardware lead Kate Bergeron confirmed. The replacement costs $19 for AppleCare customers and $49 without it.