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Apple's upcoming iPhone Duo will require developers to recompile apps for iOS 27.0 just to fill the device's larger inner screen, with iOS 27.1 needed to access the Duo's new tab bar and other custom UI elements. Apple chose not to let iPad apps with resizable layouts run on the Duo, opting instead for a purpose-built interface exclusive to the new hardware.
Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, a foldable phone launching October 23 starting at $1,999, whose hardware resembles rivals like Samsung's Z Fold 8. What sets it apart is a version of iOS and apps specifically reworked for the folding screen, including repositioned app icons and smoother transitions between the cover and inner displays.
In the latest episode of 9to5Mac Overtime, hosts Jeff Benjamin and Fernando Silva shared their initial reactions to the iPhone Duo, described as Apple's first foldable smartphone. The podcast episode is sponsored by Bitwarden, which is promoting a free virtual security summit on September 17.
A 2009 demo video of Microsoft's abandoned Courier prototype is drawing renewed attention for its resemblance to Apple's rumored iPhone Duo foldable design. The Courier featured dual screens with an integrated interface allowing users to drag content like photos between panels, a concept Microsoft shelved less than a year after unveiling it.
Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, its debut foldable smartphone, at its September event in Cupertino, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The device features a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner screen, a titanium frame, Ceramic Shield glass, and IP68 water resistance. Preorders begin October 16, with sales starting October 23 in Star White and Night Sky colors for $1,999.
Samsung R&D executive Hee-Cheul Moon publicly welcomed Apple's upcoming entry into foldable phones, framing it as validation of Samsung's early lead in the category. However, he pointedly stressed that device weight is the critical factor for customer satisfaction, an apparent dig at reports that Apple's foldable will weigh roughly 235g compared to the Galaxy Fold 8's 201g. Market analysts project Apple could capture 40% of the foldable market within a year, edging past Samsung's current 38% share.
Case maker Dbrand has already listed close to 50 grip cases for the rumored foldable iPhone Ultra, even though Apple hasn't officially unveiled the device. The phone is widely expected to debut at Apple's September 9 event, with a foldable design similar to the Samsung Z Fold or Google Pixel Fold and a price tag potentially exceeding $2,000.
Xiaomi officially unveiled the Xiaomi 18 Fold at IFA 2026, giving the public its first real look at the wide-screen foldable in a cherry red finish after weeks of leaked images. The device features a triple-camera setup with a focal range suggesting roughly 3.3x telephoto zoom, and it debuts alongside more than 380 other products at Xiaomi's booth, including its smart home and connected ecosystem lineup.
Leaks ahead of Apple's confirmed September 9 event point to a foldable iPhone Ultra launching seven years after Samsung's first foldable phone. Reports describe a nearly crease-free inner display, an ultra-thin body powered by the A20 Pro chip and a vapor chamber for cooling, and a liquid-metal hinge built on technology Apple licensed more than 15 years ago.
Apple is preparing a wave of over ten new products, including its first foldable iPhone, dubbed iPhone Ultra, a long-rumored smart home hub called HomePad, and a refreshed Apple TV 4K. The HomePad, first detailed by Mark Gurman in late 2024, was delayed by Siri AI setbacks but now appears close to release alongside other Home products.