Apple has launched its first foldable phone as the iPhone Duo rather than the rumored iPhone Ultra, positioning it as a premium but not top-tier device that lacks a telephoto camera and has a smaller battery than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The compact, palm-size Duo starts at $1,999 and will be available October 23, competing more closely with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 than its flagship Z Fold 8 Ultra, which starts at $2,100 and is already on sale with Samsung's best camera and battery specs.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-13
Apple has released the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, featuring a passport-style hinge and large displays, priced at over $2,000. Unlike Samsung, which has iterated on foldables for seven years mostly among tech enthusiasts, Apple's mainstream user base means early feedback could shape how folding phones evolve industry-wide.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-13
In an interview with MKBHD, Apple's Craig Federighi addressed concerns that the foldable iPhone Duo could overlap with the iPad, particularly the iPad mini. He compared it to how users naturally settled into distinct usage patterns for iPad and Mac, predicting the same will happen with iPhone Duo and iPad. Federighi also emphasized that Apple built iOS for the Duo's form factor from scratch rather than stretching an existing interface to fit.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-13
Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo introduces an easy split-screen multitasking system, letting users drag an app into half the screen while still seeing the home screen, save app pairs, and even split a video alongside an app. Meanwhile, iPadOS 27 continues to force users into an all-or-nothing choice between full-screen apps and its more complex windowing system.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-12
Accessory maker ESR has launched a new product line timed to Apple's iPhone 18 launch, including its iPhone Duo foldable, the iPhone 18 Pro models, AirPods, Apple Watch and MagSafe wallets. The centerpiece is the Atelier Vegan Leather Magnetic Case with Flex Stand, built specifically to protect the Duo's hinge and dual screens without adding bulk. The case uses stain-resistant organic silicone leather and a rotating zinc-alloy stand designed to open and close smoothly.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-12
Blogger Nicolas Lellouche discovered a hidden display option on the iPhone Duo called 'Shift Left Edge,' which adds a black border to the outer screen's left side, effectively doubling the bezel there. Apple's own description says the feature shifts content away from cases that partially cover that edge of the outer display.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-12
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.
techspot.com
· 2026-09-12
Apple's 'Surprise and Shine' event introduced only two new iPhone models — the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max — alongside a foldable device called the iPhone Duo, priced at $1,999.99. The event also marked John Ternus's debut as CEO, opening the show solo rather than alongside outgoing CEO Tim Cook, who is now executive chair. CNET's reader prediction contest showed most participants expected three phones and a joint Cook-Ternus appearance, both of which turned out wrong.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-12
Apple unveiled a new folding iPhone at an event led by John Ternus, marking his first major product showcase in his new leadership role. The device signals Apple's entry into the foldable phone category, a segment rivals have explored for years.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-12
Leaker Instant Digital reports that Apple and Samsung Display have signed a three-year exclusive supply agreement covering foldable displays for the upcoming iPhone Duo and future models. Each panel is said to cost roughly $250, making it one of the priciest single components in the device. No official bill-of-materials breakdown exists yet, though Apple has detailed the device's recycled materials and sustainability specs.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-11
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.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-11
GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu says Apple's $100 price increase on iPhone 18 Pro models was less than the $200-250 markets anticipated, while the new $1,999 iPhone Duo landed at the low end of expected pricing. Pu forecasts Apple will ship about 7 million iPhone Duo units by year-end, citing strong early consumer interest in the foldable-style device.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-11
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