CUPERTINO, California — Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone race with the launch of the iPhone Duo, a passport-shaped device that unfolds into a larger tablet-like screen.
But with a starting price of US$1,999 — about S$2,530 — Apple’s most ambitious iPhone in years is also raising one major question:
Who is actually willing to pay that much for a phone?
The iPhone Duo marks Apple’s first entry into the foldable market, years after competitors such as Samsung and Huawei began selling folding smartphones. Apple is betting that its combination of hardware design, software and privacy features can finally help push foldables beyond their niche status.
Apple’s Most Expensive iPhone Yet
The iPhone Duo opens from a compact smartphone into a larger 7.6-inch display, giving users more space for watching videos, gaming, reading, multitasking and working.
The device is designed to function as both a smartphone and a small tablet, potentially eliminating the need for some users to carry two separate devices.
But that versatility comes at a premium.
The base model starts at US$1,999, while higher-storage versions can cost significantly more.
For many consumers, that means the iPhone Duo costs more than some combinations of a traditional smartphone and tablet.
And that makes Apple’s biggest challenge less about technology — and more about convincing people the device is worth the price.
What Exactly Is the iPhone Duo For?
Apple has highlighted the iPhone Duo’s ability to switch between a traditional phone and a larger-screen device.
The bigger display can support:
- Multitasking
- Video streaming
- Mobile gaming
- Reading
- Productivity apps
- Video calls
- Apple Pencil functions
- AI-powered features
When folded, the device is compact enough to function like a regular smartphone.
When opened, it provides significantly more screen space.
But analysts have questioned whether that advantage is enough to convince mainstream consumers to spend nearly US$2,000 on a first-generation Apple foldable.
The technology is impressive. The bigger question is whether consumers actually need it.
Apple Is Entering a Market Samsung Already Knows
Apple may be new to foldables, but the market is not.
Samsung has spent years developing its Galaxy Fold devices, while Huawei and several Chinese smartphone makers have also introduced folding models.
Those companies have already dealt with some of the biggest challenges surrounding foldables, including:
- Screen creases
- Hinge durability
- Battery limitations
- Software optimisation
- Thickness
- Weight
- Repair costs
Apple’s late arrival could actually work in its favour.
The company has a history of entering product categories after competitors and attempting to refine the technology for a wider audience.
However, Apple’s biggest advantage may also be its biggest test.
Can the company make a foldable feel like an essential device rather than an expensive gadget?
Foldables Are Still a Tiny Part of the Smartphone Market
Despite years of development, foldable phones remain a relatively small part of global smartphone sales.
The technology attracts attention and generates excitement, but high prices have prevented many consumers from making the switch.
That is why Apple’s arrival is being closely watched.
The company has one of the world’s largest smartphone customer bases and a powerful ecosystem of services, apps and connected devices.
If Apple can convince even a small percentage of iPhone users to upgrade, the foldable market could grow dramatically.
But the US$1,999 price means the iPhone Duo is unlikely to become a mass-market product overnight.
The First Buyers May Be Apple Superfans
The earliest customers are likely to include:
- Apple enthusiasts
- Wealthy technology buyers
- Professionals who multitask on mobile devices
- Content creators
- Frequent travellers
- Users deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem
- Early adopters who want the newest technology
For these customers, the iPhone Duo’s price may be easier to justify.
Someone who currently carries both an iPhone and an iPad, for example, may see value in combining some of those functions into a single device.
Content creators could also benefit from the larger screen and dual-display photography features.
But for someone who mainly uses their phone for social media, messaging and streaming videos, a standard iPhone could remain the more practical choice.
Is This a Phone — or a Luxury Status Symbol?
The iPhone Duo could also become something else entirely.
At nearly US$2,000, it enters the territory of luxury technology.
The first generation of the device may appeal partly because it is rare, expensive and immediately recognisable as Apple’s newest premium product.
That could turn the iPhone Duo into a status symbol before it becomes a mainstream smartphone.
Apple has seen similar behaviour with other premium products.
For some buyers, owning the newest and most advanced Apple device is part of the appeal.
The iPhone Duo may initially sell as much on exclusivity as on practicality.
Apple’s First-Generation Risk
There is also the question many Apple customers ask before buying a completely new product category:
Should you buy the first version — or wait?
First-generation devices can be exciting, but they can also come with unexpected problems that are addressed in later versions.
Apple has spent years developing the foldable device, but real-world use will ultimately determine whether the design meets consumer expectations.
Buyers will be watching closely for issues involving:
- Long-term hinge durability
- Display reliability
- Battery performance
- Software compatibility
- Weight and portability
- Repair costs
- Everyday usability
For some consumers, the safest strategy may be to wait for reviews and real-world feedback before spending more than S$2,500.
The Big Bet Could Still Pay Off
Despite the concerns, analysts believe Apple’s entry could provide the biggest boost the foldable industry has seen.
Apple has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to take existing technology and introduce it to a much larger audience through software, branding and ecosystem integration.
The iPhone was not the first smartphone.
The Apple Watch was not the first smartwatch.
And AirPods were not the first wireless earbuds.
But Apple helped turn those product categories into mainstream consumer products.
The company is now hoping it can do something similar with foldables.
The Bottom Line
Apple’s iPhone Duo is one of the boldest smartphone launches in years — but its S$2,530 starting price means it is not for everyone.
The foldable device offers the convenience of a smartphone and the larger display of a tablet in one product, but consumers will have to decide whether that flexibility is worth nearly US$2,000.
For Apple superfans, early adopters and professionals who want more screen space without carrying another device, the answer may be yes.
For everyone else, the question remains much simpler:
Do you really need a phone that folds — or do you just want one because Apple finally made it?
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