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 display and carries a starting price of US$1,999, or about S$2,530.
The iPhone Duo marks Apple’s first foldable smartphone and one of the biggest changes to the iPhone’s design in years, putting the tech giant into direct competition with established foldable-phone players including Samsung and Huawei.
Apple’s iPhone Finally Folds
When closed, the iPhone Duo resembles a compact book-shaped smartphone with a 5.4-inch outer display.
Open it up, however, and the device expands into a 7.6-inch internal screen, giving users significantly more room for watching videos, browsing, working and running multiple apps.
The unusual form factor has been compared to a passport because of its short and wide design.
Apple is positioning the device as more than simply a smartphone that bends.
The company is betting that users will want a device that can function as both a traditional phone and a compact productivity screen.
A $2,530 Starting Price
The biggest surprise for many consumers may be the price.
The iPhone Duo starts at US$1,999, equivalent to roughly S$2,530, making it Apple’s most expensive iPhone at launch.
The base model comes with 256GB of storage, while higher-capacity versions are available up to 2TB.
The top-end 2TB version is priced at US$3,199, placing Apple’s first foldable firmly in the ultra-premium smartphone category.
Apple Takes on Samsung and Huawei
Apple is entering a market that has existed for years but remains relatively small compared with the overall smartphone industry.
Samsung has been selling foldable Galaxy Z Fold models since 2019, while Huawei and other Chinese smartphone manufacturers have also expanded aggressively into foldable devices.
The category still represents less than 5% of global smartphone sales, according to reporting on Apple’s launch.
But Apple’s arrival could dramatically change the market.
The company brings one of the world’s largest smartphone ecosystems into a product category that competitors have spent years developing.
The Technology Inside the Fold
The iPhone Duo is powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chip and also includes the company’s C2 modem.
Apple has focused heavily on making the foldable suitable for multitasking, allowing users to work across multiple apps on the larger internal display.
The phone also supports the Apple Pencil and introduces software features designed specifically for the larger folding screen.
Apple has used a titanium body and a custom hinge system as part of its effort to address one of the biggest concerns surrounding foldable phones: durability.
What About the Crease?
One of the most common complaints about foldable smartphones is the visible crease running across the screen.
Apple has attempted to minimise that problem with a specially designed internal display and a nano-texture surface.
Early hands-on reports suggest the crease is still present, but significantly less noticeable in certain conditions.
That could be one of the iPhone Duo’s biggest tests.
Foldable displays must withstand thousands of opening and closing cycles, while maintaining screen quality and avoiding damage to the hinge mechanism.
Two 48MP Cameras — But No Dedicated Telephoto Lens
Apple has equipped the iPhone Duo with:
- A 48MP main camera
- A 48MP ultra-wide camera
- An outer front-facing camera
- An under-display camera for the larger internal screen
However, the device does not include a dedicated telephoto camera, according to early specifications and hands-on reporting.
The phone also uses Touch ID integrated into the side button rather than Face ID.
Pre-Orders and Release Date
Apple said iPhone Duo pre-orders will begin on October 16.
The foldable iPhone is scheduled to officially arrive in stores on October 23.
The launch makes the iPhone Duo one of Apple’s most important product releases of 2026.
A Major Moment for Apple’s New Era
The iPhone Duo was unveiled during a major moment for Apple, marking one of the first major product events under new CEO John Ternus.
The company also introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, alongside updated Apple Watch models and AirPods.
But the foldable iPhone was clearly the headline act.
For years, Apple watched as rivals experimented with phones that fold.
Now, it has finally made its move.
The Bottom Line
Apple has officially joined the foldable smartphone race — and it is doing so with a US$1,999 iPhone that unfolds like a passport into a 7.6-inch screen.
The iPhone Duo is Apple’s boldest smartphone redesign in years, combining a 5.4-inch outer display with a larger internal screen, an A20 Pro chip, titanium construction and foldable-focused multitasking.
But there is one major question.
Will consumers pay roughly S$2,530 for Apple’s first foldable iPhone?
Samsung and Huawei spent years proving that foldable phones could work.
Apple is now betting that it can convince millions of people that the foldable phone is finally worth buying.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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