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Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported on his Power On podcast that Apple is internally testing iPhone Duo 2 prototypes featuring Face ID, with the sensor placed beneath the outer display. He also said employees are exploring adding an Action button to the next-generation foldable, though he expressed less confidence about that feature shipping.
Apple has started installing large, cloth- and plastic-wrapped rectangular structures around the glass cube entrance of its Fifth Avenue store in New York, widely believed to be oversized iPhone Duo models ahead of Friday's launch. No customer line has formed yet at that location, though shoppers have reportedly already begun queuing at other Apple stores since earlier in the week.
Photographer Tyler Stalman published a video review assessing iPhone Duo's camera system against the iPhone 18 Pro. He found the Main and Ultra Wide cameras nearly indistinguishable in most conditions, though the Pro edges ahead in low light, while the Center Stage front camera trails at 12MP versus 18MP on the Pro models.
9to5Mac published a hands-on review of the iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable iPhone, after a week of testing. The reviewer reports the device weighs 254 grams, measures 11.3mm thick when folded and 5.2mm when unfolded, and has a folded footprint of 117.8mm by 84.1mm, noting it feels more comfortable to hold than the iPhone 18 Pro Max despite being heavier.
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.
Apple has expanded its Self Service Repair program to cover the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, the M5 Max/M5 Ultra Mac Studio, and the M6/M5 Pro Mac mini. Customers can now buy individual parts—such as displays, batteries, cameras, logic boards, and enclosures—along with the tools needed to install them, or rent the tools instead. The update coincided with Apple's announcement of new and expanded US supplier partnerships for iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo components.
Apple said nearly 100 components across the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo are produced by American companies in over a dozen states. It named Perryman Company, a Pennsylvania titanium producer, as a new partner supplying titanium for the iPhone Duo's enclosure, backed by up to $100 million over three years, and expanded its work with Delaware-based Qnity Electronics to make film components for the iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture camera.
Apple said it will invest up to $100 million over three years in Perryman Company of Houston, Pennsylvania, to supply titanium for its products, including the newly unveiled $1,999 foldable iPhone Duo. The company also said it is expanding U.S. production of camera components for the iPhone 18 Pro, as part of its broader domestic manufacturing push under the American Manufacturing Program.
9to5Mac published a guide to accessories for the new iPhone 18 Pro, highlighting items like the HyperJuice Next 5K Qi2 solid-state power bank, Nomad's Find My tracking cards, and 3-in-1 MagSafe charging stations from Satechi, Nomad and Anker. The HyperJuice power bank has a 5,000mAh capacity, is airline carry-on compliant, includes a bonus USB-C port, and has passed over 115 independent safety tests. A discount code is offered for 9to5Mac readers to get a reduced price on the power bank.
Apple's first foldable device, the iPhone Duo, is seeing delivery estimates stretch to Jan. 25 for some configurations ahead of its Friday store launch. Morgan Stanley reported the Duo's 14-week average preorder lead time is the longest of any iPhone tracked in a decade, while iPhone 18 Pro lead times are down year over year. Melius Research cited the Duo as one factor supporting Apple's recent climb past a $5 trillion market valuation.
Following the iPhone 18 Pro and Duo launches, reports indicate Apple will release the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e in spring 2027, followed by 20th-anniversary flagships that fall. The iPhone 18 is expected to get more RAM, thermal improvements and Apple's C2 modem, while the iPhone 18e reportedly shares components with the 18 and moves to the A20 chip.
Apple's EU regulatory filing revealed iPhone Duo's battery totals 4883mAh, split across two cells of 2962mAh and 1921mAh. That places it between the iPhone 18 Pro (4288mAh) and iPhone 18 Pro Max (5567mAh), with Apple citing up to 44 hours of video playback on the outer display and 31 hours on the inner display.