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Apple announced the iPhone Duo its first foldable handset during a product event on September 9 2026 as John Ternus made his debut as chief executive following Tim Cook’s transition to executive chairman. The book-style device unfolds into a 7.6-inch display that Apple described as the largest and thinnest screen yet on an iPhone while supporting features such as Apple Pencil input and unlocking via Apple Watch. Ternus who previously led hardware engineering pushed the project across the finish line according to people familiar with its development and told the audience the Duo resulted from remarkable innovations that would redefine the foldable experience.
The iPhone Duo opens like a passport-sized book and can be used partially folded or propped on a table for hands-free operation a design choice that sets it apart from earlier rival models. It runs on the new A20 Pro chip delivers up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner display and comes in Star White and Night Sky finishes with storage options ranging from 256 gigabytes to 2 terabytes. Preorders begin October 16 with availability following on October 23 according to the company which simultaneously introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max at prices raised by $100 from prior generations.
Foldable phones have accounted for less than 2 percent of global smartphone shipments since Samsung pioneered the category in 2019 according to Counterpoint Research data. Apple aims to capture as much as 40 percent of the foldable segment within a year of launch with initial shipments projected between 6 million and 17 million units by International Data Corporation estimates. The high starting price matches that of a base MacBook Pro and exceeds the typical iPhone by more than 50 percent a move the company hopes will expand its premium customer base rather than cannibalise existing sales.
Analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee at Forrester warned that the foldable risks becoming a premium-priced ornament in the portfolio imparting badge value but not meaningful growth. Other observers noted that while manufacturers have improved durability since the first Galaxy Fold models repairability remains a challenge limiting broader consumer appeal. A summer survey by CNET found that 75 percent of respondents expressed no interest in a foldable iPhone and most would only consider paying around $780 for such a device well below the announced price.
Ternus framed the Duo as inspired by the iPad with fluid and completely intuitive folding features that avoid the awkwardness of two phones stuck together a direct jab at competing designs from Samsung and Google. The project had been in development inside Apple for years with early targets aiming to stay under a $2000 barrier before component shortages driven by artificial intelligence demand pushed costs higher according to Bloomberg reporting. As hardware chief Ternus championed the effort helping steer it through technical hurdles that included minimising the screen crease and optimising software for multiple app windows.
The launch marks the most significant iPhone redesign since the 2007 original and arrives as the device line generates more than half of Apple’s total revenue which reached $209.6 billion from iPhones in the most recent fiscal year per company filings. Industry forecasts suggest the regional cold-chain market is irrelevant here but the foldable push aligns with Apple’s strategy to diversify beyond traditional slabs while maintaining its reputation for premium builds. With memory chip shortages already lifting prices across the lineup the Duo tests whether loyal customers will absorb the cost for what the company positions as a transformative productivity tool.
