CUPERTINO, California- Apple has officially introduced the iPhone Duo, marking the company’s entry into the foldable smartphone market and one of the biggest design changes in the iPhone’s history.
Unveiled during Apple’s annual product event in Cupertino on Wednesday, the iPhone Duo features a book-style design that resembles a passport when closed.
The device has a smaller external display for conventional smartphone use and unfolds to reveal a larger horizontal screen. The inner display can also be viewed vertically.
Apple described the Duo as its thinnest iPhone when unfolded.
The launch comes more than seven years after Samsung introduced its first Galaxy Fold and follows years of speculation that Apple was developing a foldable device.
Samsung, Google, Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo and Honor are among manufacturers already competing in the foldable smartphone market.
Despite their high prices and expanding range, foldable devices remain a small segment of the global smartphone market.
They accounted for about 1.6 per cent of smartphone sales in 2025, according to Counterpoint Research.
However, industry analysts expect Apple’s entry to increase consumer interest and accelerate competition in the category.
The iPhone Duo was unveiled at the first major Apple product event led by new Chief Executive Officer John Ternus, who succeeded Tim Cook.
Cook appeared in a recorded introduction before handing over the presentation to Ternus.
The company also unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which feature the new A20 Pro chip and expanded artificial intelligence capabilities.
Apple said an upgraded Siri would work with about 300,000 applications at launch, while most Apple Intelligence functions would run directly on the devices to protect user data.
The company also introduced Apple Reference Image, a standard intended to help users verify whether photographs captured on the new iPhones are authentic.
Apple said the feature would not initially be available in China or the European Union.
Apple did not immediately provide all availability and pricing details for the iPhone Duo during the initial presentation.
Analysts expect it to cost more than $2,000, making it the company’s most expensive smartphone.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will start at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively.
Apple also announced the AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 at the event.
