Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the introduction of iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, with a starting price of US$1,999 (RM9,499).
The iPhone Duo opens into a 7.6-inch inner Super Retina XDR display, which Apple says is 50 percent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, while the 5.4-inch outer display allows the device to be used as a conventional smartphone when folded.
Both displays share the same aspect ratio, allowing content to scale proportionally as users move between the folded and unfolded configurations. The displays also support ProMotion, Always On and up to 3,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness.
Apple said the inner display uses a nano-texture finish designed to reduce glare and reflections while also minimising the visibility of the crease. The company has also placed a new FaceTime camera underneath the inner display.
The device is built around a precision hinge with more than 100 components, with Apple using grade 5 titanium for the enclosure. The company said the iPhone Duo has an IP68 rating for splash, water and dust resistance, while Ceramic Shield protects the rear and Ceramic Shield 2 is used on the outer display.
Built For Foldable Use
Apple has also redesigned iOS 27 around the foldable form factor, moving certain controls to the side of the interface to leave more vertical space for content.
When opened, iPhone Duo can display two Home Screen pages alongside Today View, while the Dynamic Island has been redesigned to fit vertically along the side of the displays.
The larger inner display also introduces Split View, allowing two apps to run side by side for the first time on an iPhone. Users can also open two windows of the same app, switch between applications and save pairs of apps for later use.
Apple said apps including Netflix, Zoom and Slack are already being adapted for the foldable design.
StandBy has also been expanded, with iPhone Duo able to enter StandBy when propped up on either display even when it is not charging. The feature can turn the phone into a clock, photo frame or widget hub.
48MP Cameras And Foldable Features
The iPhone Duo features a 48MP Fusion Main camera with an integrated optical-quality 2x Telephoto option, alongside a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera.
The main camera can capture images at up to 48MP, with 24MP set as the default resolution. Apple said the camera also benefits from a larger sensor, a faster aperture and sensor-shift optical image stabilisation for low-light photography.
The foldable design enables several camera features that Apple says are not possible on other iPhones.
Smart Take uses on-device AI to analyse a scene and automatically capture a photo when subjects are ready, while Duo Preview lets users see the camera preview on the outer display when using the rear cameras for selfies.
Duo FaceTime allows people on the other side of the phone to join a video call through the outer display, while Kid Cue uses Peanuts animations on the outer screen to attract children’s attention during photos.
For video, the main camera supports 4K recording at 120 frames per second in Dolby Vision. Apple has also added post-capture Cinematic effects at up to 60fps and new Audio Mix capabilities.
A20 Pro Powers The Foldable
Under the hood, iPhone Duo is powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chip, the same processor used in the iPhone 18 Pro models.
The six-core CPU is up to 20 percent faster than A19 Pro, while the seven-core GPU is up to 40 percent faster and more power efficient. Apple also said its dual 16-core Neural Engine delivers twice the compute power for on-device AI workloads.
The A20 Pro is built using a 2-nanometre process and features 50 percent more unified memory bandwidth.
To manage heat inside the thin foldable design, Apple has paired the chip with a custom vapor chamber. The company claims this enables up to 35 percent better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro.
Up To 31 Hours Of Video Playback
The foldable design also houses a dual-battery architecture, with a high-energy battery placed on each side of the device.
Apple claims iPhone Duo can deliver up to 31 hours of video playback using the inner display and up to 44 hours when using the outer display. With both displays used equally, Apple says the device can provide up to 24 hours of usage per charge.
The phone can charge to 50 percent in around 20 minutes using a wired connection, while MagSafe or Qi2 wireless charging can reach 50 percent in around 30 minutes.
iPhone Duo is also eSIM-only worldwide, allowing Apple to save internal space while supporting connectivity across more than 500 carriers.
Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread through Apple’s N1 networking chip, while the C2 cellular modem adds AI-powered improvements to cellular performance and supports mmWave in the US.
Siri AI Comes To The Foldable
The iPhone Duo also arrives with Apple’s latest push into AI through Apple Intelligence and Siri AI.
Siri AI, which is rolling out in beta with iOS 27, can use personal context from messages, emails and photos, understand what is displayed on screen and take actions based on that information.
Apple said users can also have a conversation with Siri AI on one side of the inner display while viewing an app or other content on the other.
Other Apple Intelligence features include improved photo editing, a more advanced Image Playground, AI-generated image identification through upcoming SynthID support and Notify Me in Safari for tracking changes to webpages such as product availability or price drops.
iPhone Duo Starts At US$1,999
iPhone Duo will be available in star white and night sky, with storage options ranging from 256GB to 2TB.
The device starts at US$1,999, with financing available at US$83.29 per month over 24 months in the US.
Apple will begin taking pre-orders on October 16, with availability starting October 23 across more than 70 countries and regions, including Malaysia. A further 28 countries and regions will receive the device from October 30.
Apple is also launching an iPhone Duo Case priced at US$79 and an iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand priced at US$129.
The iPhone Duo will ship with iOS 27.1, while Apple Pencil support over USB-C is expected to arrive later this year.
