Apple enters foldable phone market with $1,999 iPhone Duo
The iPhone Duo marks Apple’s long-awaited entry into a market already occupied by Samsung and Google, as the company also unveiled new Pro phones, watches, AirPods and AI features.
Apple has unveiled its first foldable smartphone, entering an established market with a $1,999 device that opens into a 7.6-inch display.
The new iPhone Duo, which will go on sale on 23 October, is the biggest departure from Apple’s conventional smartphone design since the launch of the original iPhone.
It has a 5.4-inch outer screen for use when folded and opens to provide a larger display intended for watching content, gaming and running multiple applications.
Apple said the Duo was its thinnest iPhone when unfolded. It also supports the Apple Pencil and features a redesigned version of iOS intended to make use of the additional screen space.
The launch puts Apple in direct competition with Samsung, Google and other manufacturers that entered the foldable smartphone market earlier.
Apple is betting that its combination of hardware, software and connected services can persuade customers to pay a premium for the new design. The company did not provide sales projections for the device in the supplied announcement.
New iPhone 18 Pro models
Alongside the Duo, Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, starting at $1,199 and $1,299 respectively.
Both phones are powered by the company’s new A20 Pro chip and have a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with variable aperture.
Variable-aperture technology allows a camera to adjust the amount of light entering its lens, potentially giving users greater control in different shooting conditions.
The phones also feature a smaller Dynamic Island, while Apple said the Pro Max offered the biggest improvement in battery life in iPhone history. The company did not provide detailed comparative battery figures in the supplied material.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro models are scheduled to open on 12
September, ahead of their release on 18 September.
Apple is also introducing Siri AI through iOS 27, placing greater emphasis on artificial intelligence while highlighting privacy and the processing of information directly on users’ devices.
Watches and AirPods upgraded
Apple also announced updates to its smartwatch and wireless earphone ranges.
The Apple Watch Series 12 introduces a Health Sensing System that takes more frequent heart-rate and heart-rate-variability measurements.
It also offers a “readiness” score designed to indicate how prepared a user’s body may be for the day. The watch starts at $399.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4, designed primarily for athletes and outdoor users, includes the same health-sensing technology and offers up to 45 hours of outdoor workout tracking. Prices start at $799.
The new AirPods 5 bring active noise cancellation to Apple’s open-ear earphone design, alongside improved sound, Siri AI integration and Live Translation.
AirPods 5 prices start at $129, with availability scheduled for 18 September.
First major test for new CEO
The event was the first major product presentation led by John Ternus since he succeeded Tim Cook as Apple’s chief executive on 1 September.
It represents an early test of Apple’s direction under its new leadership.
The company is entering the foldable sector after some of its biggest competitors, but the Duo’s launch gives Apple a new premium product as it expands the wider ecosystem connecting its phones, watches, earphones and artificial-intelligence services.