iPhone Duo launched as Apple’s first-ever foldable smartphone: price, specifications

The iPhone Duo appears to have taken design cues from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, flaunting a passport-size form factor that remains compact when folded and feels ideal for multimedia consumption, reading, and social media when unfolded, thanks to its large inner display.

Key iPhone Duo specs include Super Retina displays, A20 Pro SoC, 48MP dual cameras, and up to 45 hours of video playback on a single charge. It’s also the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever made to date.

iPhone Duo price, availability

The iPhone Duo is priced in India at Rs 2,99,900 for the base 256GB storage variant. This is roughly over a lakh more than the US pricing of the phone – $1,999 (~Rs 1,90,100).

The iPhone Duo comes in Starlight and Night Sky colours. This marks the first time since 2017 that Apple has launched an iPhone in just two colours. The latest iPhone Duo will be available for pre-order starting October 16th, with sales beginning on October 23rd.

The iPhone Duo India price will be out soon and will be updated, so keep watching this space.

iPhone Duo specifications

Design and displays

The iPhone Duo boasts a book-style foldable design, with a horizontally folding hinge. That hinge supports a large 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR OLED foldable display with up to 120Hz dynamic refresh rate, which offers a tablet-like viewing experience, suitable for multimedia consumption, reading, and multitasking when unfolded. The smartphone also sports a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR 120Hz outer display to use it as a regular smartphone when folded. Apple claims that iPhone Duo is the thinnest when unfolded.

The foldable iPhone features a titanium frame and a custom torque-engineered hinge to hold at an angle. The handset can be used in tent mode, partially folded, and at a 90-degree angle. Apple claims to have used a multilayer system on top of the inner screen to reduce the crease and ensure the surface feels flat. Both the outer screen and the back panel feature Ceramic Shield 2 protection, while the IP68 rating keeps it safe from water and dust.

Performance and software

At the core of the iPhone Duo lies the next-gen A20 Pro chipset, the same as the one used on the latest iPhone 18 Pro models, which is claimed to deliver up to 20 percent faster CPU performance and 40 percent faster GPU performance, while doubling neural compute for more capable on-device AI and up to 40 percent better sustained performance. The SoC on the foldable also features a dual-display engine to back its dual screens. Furthermore, the iPhone Duo features the Apple C2 modem, touted as the most advanced cellular model to enhance connectivity on the smartphone.

The smartphone runs the latest iOS 27 out of the box, with software optimisations designed specifically for its larger inner display, including support for multitasking and running multiple apps side by side. Controls such as Wi-Fi, the dock, and quick-access buttons have been moved to the sides, allowing content to fit more naturally on the larger display. The outer screen compactly places the status bar icons below the corner-aligned selfie camera.

Cameras and battery

In terms of cameras, the iPhone Duo sports a dual rear-camera setup, comprising two 48MP fusion sensors. The setup seems similar to last year’s iPhone 17, with a primary wide-angle camera and an ultra-wide-angle camera, lacking the more advanced variable aperture introduced with the iPhone 18 Pro series. As for selfies and video calling, the iPhone Duo relies on a slightly inferior 12MP centre-stage camera on the outer display, while the inner display features an unspecified under-display FaceTime camera.

As for the iPhone Duo battery, Apple claims up to 32 hours of video playback on the inner foldable display, while the outer display is said to support up to 44 hours of playback. The smartphone is also touted to deliver up to 24 hours of playback on a single charge when both displays are used equally. For charging, the iPhone Duo can reach 50 percent in around 20 minutes, while a 5-minute charge is claimed to provide up to 5 hours of video playback.

Security and other features

The iPhone Duo also marks the return of Touch ID, which Apple ditched with the iPhone X almost a decade ago. The biometric authentication system is integrated into the side-mounted power button, which appears to be the only viable placement for secure biometric authentication on a smartphone with this form factor.

The device also supports Apple Pencil with USB-C for sketching, jotting notes, and more. Other features include speakers at the top and bottom for stereo output.