Jump to content

iPhone Duo

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iPhone Duo
DeveloperApple
TypeFoldable smartphone
Series
iPhone
First released
October 23, 2026; 31 days' time (2026-10-23)
Availability by region
October 23, 2026; 31 days' time (2026-10-23)
RelatediPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max
2G GSM/EDGE, 3G UMTS/HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G NR/5G-A
Foldable (book-style)
Colors
  •   Star White
  •   Night Sky
Dimensions117.8 × 164.6 × 5.2 mm (4.64 × 6.48 × 0.20 in) (when unfolded)
117.8 × 84.1 × 11.3 mm (4.64 × 3.31 × 0.44 in) (when folded)
Weight254 g (8.96 oz)
iOS 27.1 on launch
Apple A20 Pro
CPU6-core CPU (2 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores)
GPU7-core GPU
ModemApple C2
Memory12 GB RAM
Storage256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB NVMe
Battery5,400 mAh dual battery[1][2]
Charging
  • MagSafe and Qi 2 wireless
  • USB-C fast-charge
  • Up to 50% charge in 20 minutes with 60 W adaptor or higher
Rear camera48 MP Fusion Main camera; 48 MP Fusion Ultra Wide; 2x optical-quality telephoto; 4K 120 fps video; 4K Dolby Vision HDR
Front camera12 MP Center Stage front camera, under-display camera
DisplayFoldable 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR inner display, nano-texture finish; 5.4-inch outer display
SoundStereo speakers, spatial audio
ConnectivityWi-Fi 7 tri-band, Bluetooth 6.0 (A2DP, LE), Ultra-wideband, Thread, NFC (reader mode, Express Cards), LEO satellite (Globalstar, limited), USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10 Gbit/s), Dual-frequency GPS (L1, L5), GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, NavIC
Data inputsFingerprint (side-mounted)
Accelerometer
Gyro
Proximity
Compass
Barometer
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6 m for 30 minutes)
Made inChina
OtherEmergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite, FaceTime Audio or Video at 1080p over Wi-Fi and 5G, Voice over 5G Standalone (if supported by the carrier)
Websiteapple.com/iphone-duo
References[3][4]

The iPhone Duo is a foldable smartphone developed and marketed by Apple. It is the first iPhone to feature a foldable design. The device was announced during the Apple Event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on September 9, 2026, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, and is scheduled to be released on October 23, 2026.

History

Development

Apple Inc. began filing patents for a foldable iPhone display as early as 2011;[5] a patent for a gesture-controlled flexible display was awarded in January 2015.[6]

In November 2016, Apple received patents for iPhones that could fold into a book shape[7] and a clamshell shape.[8] In October 2017, The Bell reported that Apple was working on a foldable display with LG Display with production expected to begin in 2020;[9] Bank of America corroborated that report in March 2018.[10]

In 2020, then-Apple CEO Tim Cook became convinced that Apple needed to enter the foldable phone market after witnessing their growing popularity in Asian consumers using devices from Samsung and Huawei.[11]

In December 2024, analyst Ross Young reported that Apple would debut a foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026. Early rumors of the foldable iPhone suggested that it could be between 7.9 and 8.3 inches (20 and 21 cm) in size with a clamshell design.[12][13] In January 2025, the phone remained in early planning, with reports saying it would only support eSIMs, as would Apple's upcoming iPhone Air, which was also in development.[14] In February 2025, Apple began choosing suppliers for ultra-thin display glass, while details about display sizes and creases began to surface.[15][16] Samsung was reported to be the supplier of the OLED display for the phone, and Apple focusing on a 2026 release.[17][18] By March, early reports suggested a book-style design with a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer display.[19][20] Soon after, the first signs of the phone's existence surfaced in the "new product introduction" phase at Foxconn.[21][22]

The phone was initially presumed to be called the "iPhone Fold" because of its OLED folding display. Reports in April 2026 suggested that it would instead be named the "iPhone Ultra".[23][24] SellCell analyzed the 12-month resale value from flagship brands like Apple, Samsung, Google, Motorola, and OnePlus, and suggested that the foldable iPhone would lose $1,292 of its value within a year on the market.[25][26] In July 2026, references to the phone were discovered in beta releases of iOS 27.[27][28][29]

Early hands-on impressions of the phone appeared in August 2026;[30][31] early motherboard photos for the phone surfaced soon after.[32]

Production

Production details began to surface in June.[33][34] In early July, Apple reportedly placed orders for 10 million of the foldable iPhones,[35][36] and mass production of the phone[37][38] and other components[39][40] began shortly after. Multiple reports suggested that the foldable iPhone suffered early production hurdles and final mass-production adjustments,[41][42] and in September 2026, reports confirmed that foldable iPhone production was ramping up slowly with only a few hundred units a day by late August.[43][44]

Unveiling and release

Apple CEO John Ternus unveiled the iPhone Duo on September 9, 2026.[45] It is scheduled for release on October 23, 2026, in about 70 countries and regions, with preorders beginning October 16, 2026. It is scheduled to launch in 28 additional countries and regions on October 30, 2026.[46][47][48]

Design

The iPhone Duo features a titanium frame and two displays. When closed, the device's external display allows it to be used as a conventional smartphone. When opened, the foldable internal display provides a larger workspace, similar to that of an iPad Mini. The phone uses Ceramic Shield 2 protection on the front of the display and Ceramic Shield on the back of the device, and has an IP68 dust and water resistance rating. The foldable display can be used in different positions, and iOS adapts the interface depending on whether the display is fully open, partially folded, or closed.[49]

The iPhone Duo comes in Night Sky and Star White colors.[50]

Specifications

Chipset

The iPhone Duo uses the Apple A20 Pro system-on-chip.[47][48] The chip is manufactured using a 2 nm process and is paired with a vapor-chamber cooling system. According to Apple, the A20 Pro provides increased performance and efficiency for graphics processing, artificial intelligence, and other workloads.[51]

Display

The Duo design features a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner display when unfolded.[47][48] The device uses a book-style folding design, with the inner display providing a larger viewing area when the device is opened. The two displays have a consistent aspect ratio, allowing content to transition between the folded and unfolded configurations.[52][50] When unfolded, it features the largest display in an iPhone to date.

Both displays support a ProMotion display and have an outdoor peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits. The inside display incorporates a camera beneath the screen.[50]

Camera

Video is captured in 4K at 120 fps. An under-screen camera in the inner display was developed for FaceTime video calls, allowing for multi-camera use during calls.[47][48][50]

Connectivity

The iPhone Duo uses Apple's C2 cellular modem. The device also includes Apple's N1 wireless networking chip, which supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread.[51]

Battery

The iPhone Duo uses a dual-battery system designed around its folding form factor. Apple states that the device provides up to 24 hours of battery life with mixed use of the two displays. The battery can charge to 50 percent in approximately 20 minutes using a compatible fast charger.[52][50]

Software

The iPhone Duo will be shipped with iOS 27.1 on release.[53]

To accommodate the iPhone Duo's folding form factor, the user interface was completely redesigned, with elements inspired by the iPad. Side-by-side multitasking, which was previously exclusive on the iPad, was brought over to the iPhone Duo, making it possible to run multiple apps at once. The dock, status icons, and app controls are moved to the right side of the phone to make it easier to reach with one hand as well as to maximize vertical screen real estate.[54] The software adapts to the orientation and the hinge angle, such as displaying a keyboard on one of the screens when it is partially folded and is sitting flat, or entering StandBy mode when the device is set down, even when it is not charging, with faces designed for the iPhone Duo.[55]

The iOS 27.1 software development kit (SDK) includes APIs for apps to adapt to the iPhone Duo's form factor.[55] Apps that are not built with the iOS 27 SDK nor optimized for the iPhone Duo will have a blank space on the right side of the screen which houses the status icons.[56]

Accessories

The iPhone Duo will support the Apple Pencil (USB-C), although not at launch.[57] It is the first iPhone to support the Apple Pencil, contrary to Steve Jobs' rejection of styluses on smartphones 19 years earlier.[58][59][60]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "iPhone Duo full specs: Price, display, size, colors, cameras, battery, weight, and more". Hindustan Times. Retrieved September 15, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Word of the Week is Duo". Firstpost. Retrieved September 15, 2026.
  3. ↑ "iPhone Duo - Technical Specifications". Apple. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Apple iPhone Duo - Full phone specifications". GSMArena.com. September 9, 2026. Archived from the original on September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  5. ↑ Gallagher, William. "iPhone Duo is typical Apple - never first, usually best". AppleInsider. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
  6. ↑ Campbell, Mikey (January 6, 2015). "Apple wins extensive patent for foldable, flexible iPhone with force gesture controls". AppleInsider. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
  7. ↑ Mastroianni, Brian (November 2, 2016). "Apple receives patent for foldable devices". CBS News. Archived from the original on July 21, 2025. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  8. ↑ Campbell, Mikey (November 22, 2016). "Apple patents foldable iPhone with flexible display that can clip onto clothing". Apple Insider. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Apple teams up with LG Display for foldable iPhone". The Investor. October 11, 2017. Archived from the original on February 1, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  10. ↑ Liao, Shannon (March 23, 2018). "Apple may be making a foldable iPhone within the next two years". The Verge. Archived from the original on September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Inside Apple's long road to a foldable iPhone and the new era it launches for John Ternus". Los Angeles Times. September 8, 2026. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
  12. ↑ Clover, Juli (December 2, 2024). "Apple's 2026 Foldable iPhone Could Reinvigorate Stalling Market". MacRumors. Archived from the original on September 6, 2026. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  13. ↑ Christoffel, Ryan (December 2, 2024). "Apple's foldable iPhone is expected to save a surprisingly declining market". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on August 15, 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  14. ↑ Charlton, Hartley (January 10, 2025). "Kuo: Foldable iPhone Remains in Planning Stage [Updated]". MacRumors. Archived from the original on September 6, 2026. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  15. ↑ Hardwick, Tim (February 12, 2025). "Apple Taps Ultra-Thin Glass Suppliers for First Foldable Device". MacRumors. Archived from the original on September 5, 2026. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  16. ↑ Hardwick, Tim (February 21, 2025). "Alleged Display Sizes Leaked for Apple's Book-Style Foldable iPhone". MacRumors. Archived from the original on September 6, 2026. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  17. ↑ Hardwick, Tim (February 25, 2025). "Apple's 2026 Foldable iPhone Has No Visible Display Crease – Report". MacRumors. Archived from the original on September 6, 2026. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  18. ↑ Christoffel, Ryan (February 24, 2025). "Gurman: Foldable iPhone and 'another new iPhone design' coming in 2026 - 9to5Mac". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on December 18, 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  19. ↑ Slivka, Eric (March 5, 2025). "Kuo: Apple's First Foldable iPhone to Feature Book-Style Design, Sell for Over $2,000". MacRumors. Archived from the original on September 7, 2026. Retrieved September 7, 2026.
  20. ↑ Christoffel, Ryan (March 6, 2025). "iPhone 'Fold' suddenly makes a lot more sense after this new reveal". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on December 18, 2025. Retrieved September 7, 2026.
  21. ↑ Rossignol, Joe (March 16, 2025). "Foldable iPhone and iPad to Enter Production Next Year, Analyst Says". MacRumors. Archived from the original on September 7, 2026. Retrieved September 7, 2026.
  22. ↑ Espósito, Filipe (March 17, 2025). "iPhone sales at risk, Apple's first foldable in 2026 will change that". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on December 18, 2025. Retrieved September 7, 2026.
  23. ↑ Hardwick, Tim (April 7, 2026). "Leaker: Foldable iPhone Won't Be Called iPhone Fold, But 'iPhone Ultra'". MacRumors. Archived from the original on April 7, 2026. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  24. ↑ Christoffel, Ryan (April 7, 2026). "'iPhone Ultra' is the likely name of Apple's foldable, says leaker". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on April 7, 2026. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  25. ↑ Charlton, Hartley (June 23, 2026). "Apple's Foldable iPhone Could Lose Almost $1,300 in Value in First Year, Study Suggests". MacRumors. Archived from the original on June 23, 2026. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  26. ↑ Lovejoy, Ben (June 23, 2026). "Buying an iPhone Ultra could be an expensive experiment". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on June 23, 2026. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  27. ↑ Christoffel, Ryan (July 20, 2026). "iOS 27 beta 4 mentions new iPhone model with multi-battery feature". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on July 21, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  28. ↑ Esposito, Filipe (July 20, 2026). "iOS 27 beta code reveals Apple is preparing a dual-battery iPhone". Macworld. Archived from the original on July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  29. ↑ Rossignol, Joe (July 21, 2026). "iOS 27 Hints at New Dual-Battery iPhone". MacRumors. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
  30. ↑ Hardwick, Tim (August 23, 2026). "Gurman: iPhone Ultra Wows Early Testers, Except for Its Camera". MacRumors. Archived from the original on August 26, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  31. ↑ Miller, Chance (August 23, 2026). "iPhone Ultra: what people who've used it like most". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on August 25, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  32. ↑ Charlton, Hartley (August 26, 2026). "Alleged Foldable iPhone Motherboard Photos Surface Online". MacRumors. Archived from the original on September 3, 2026. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  33. ↑ Hardwick, Tim (June 22, 2026). "Foldable iPhone 'Ultra' Still on Track for September Debut". MacRumors. Archived from the original on June 22, 2026. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  34. ↑ Lovejoy, Ben (June 22, 2026). "Suppliers expect iPhone Ultra to launch in September". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on June 22, 2026. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  35. ↑ Hall, Zac (July 2, 2026). "Apple reportedly orders 10M foldable iPhone Ultra models, which could sell for around $2500". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on July 2, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  36. ↑ Hardwick, Tim (July 2, 2026). "Apple Ramps Foldable iPhone 'Ultra' Production to 10 Million Units". MacRumors. Archived from the original on July 2, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  37. ↑ Hardwick, Tim (July 8, 2026). "iPhone Ultra Reportedly in Mass Production, No Delay Envisaged". MacRumors. Archived from the original on July 8, 2026. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  38. ↑ Lovejoy, Ben (July 8, 2026). "No delay to iPhone Ultra, says supply-chain report". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on July 8, 2026. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  39. ↑ Hardwick, Tim (July 16, 2026). "Apple Reportedly Ramps Up Vapor Chamber Orders for Foldable iPhone". MacRumors. Archived from the original on July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  40. ↑ Mendes, Marcus (July 16, 2026). "Apple increases vapor chamber orders ahead of foldable iPhone launch". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on July 17, 2026. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  41. ↑ Charlton, Hartley (July 23, 2026). "Foldable iPhone Still Faces Production Hurdles, Report Says". MacRumors. Archived from the original on July 23, 2026. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
  42. ↑ Lovejoy, Ben (July 23, 2026). "iPhone Ultra timing remains unclear as 'final production adjustments' made". 9to5Mac. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
  43. ↑ Hardwick, Tim (September 4, 2026). "iPhone Ultra Production Hitting Just 'a Few Hundred' a Day, Says Nikkei". MacRumors. Archived from the original on September 8, 2026. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  44. ↑ Miller, Chance (September 4, 2026). "Apple making just a few hundred iPhone Ultras per day, per report". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on September 5, 2026. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Apple event: CEO John Ternus reveals foldable iPhone Duo". CNN. Retrieved September 14, 2026.
  46. ↑ Clover, Juli (August 26, 2026). "Apple Event Announced for September 9: 'Surprise and Shine'". MacRumors. Archived from the original on August 26, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  47. 1 2 3 4 Al-Heeti, Abrar (September 9, 2026). "Apple Debuts the iPhone Duo, Its First Foldable Phone". CNET. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  48. 1 2 3 4 Charlton, Hartley (September 9, 2026). "Apple Announces Foldable 'iPhone Duo'". MacRumors. Archived from the original on September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  49. ↑ Chen, Brian X. (September 10, 2026). "Why is Apple's New Foldable iPhone Duo $1,999?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
  50. 1 2 3 4 5 "Apple unveils iPhone Duo". Apple Newsroom. September 9, 2026. Archived from the original on September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  51. 1 2 "Foldable iPhone, pricier 18 Pro unveiled in Apple's first event under Ternus". Reuters. September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  52. 1 2 "Apple joins foldable phone race with $1,999 passport-shaped iPhone Duo". Reuters. September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  53. ↑ Clover, Juli (September 9, 2026). "iPhone Duo Will Ship With iOS 27.1, Hinting at Update's Release Date". MacRumors. Archived from the original on September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  54. ↑ O'Brien, Terrence (September 9, 2026). "Apple completely revamped iOS 27's controls and apps for the iPhone Duo". The Verge. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
  55. 1 2 Charlton, Hartley (September 10, 2026). "Apple Details How iOS 27 Adapts to iPhone Duo's Displays". MacRumors. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
  56. ↑ Hall, Zac (September 9, 2026). "Here's how iPhone Duo treats apps not optimized for the foldable display". 9to5Mac. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
  57. ↑ Clover, Juli (September 9, 2026). "iPhone Duo Only Works With the $79 USB-C Apple Pencil, Not the Apple Pencil Pro". MacRumors. Archived from the original on September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  58. ↑ "The iPhone Duo finally brings the Apple Pencil to the iPhone — and I think Steve Jobs would have approved". TechRadar. September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
  59. ↑ bio, See full (September 9, 2026). "It's iPhone Duo Users Who Will Want a Stylus - CNET". Retrieved September 16, 2026.
  60. ↑ trade-offs, Tom Pritchard The iPhone Duo may have some; Them, But Stylus Support Isn't One of (September 10, 2026). "Steve Jobs said there would never be an iPhone stylus but iPhone Duo just proved him wrong — and it'll be a better device for it". Tom's Guide. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=IPhone_Duo&oldid=1375966893"