Apple has now finally entered the foldable phone race, and the iPhone Duo is already turning heads. Priced at $1,999, the new device brings a big screen, fresh design and a new test for the premium phone market.
Apple takes its first foldable step
As reported by The Hindu, Apple has launched the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone. The device uses the Liquid Glass design and runs on iOS 27, it also has a 5.4-inch outer screen and opens into a 7.6-inch inner display. The new phone is made from grade 5 titanium and uses ceramic protection. It also has Touch ID on the side. The inner screen is built for games, videos and work.
The Duo starts at $1,999 in the United States of America. Apple says it is the thinnest iPhone when opened. The phone uses the A20 Pro chip and a new C2 modem. Battery life is rated at up to 24 hours in mixed use. It can also reach 50 percent charge in about 20 minutes. The camera setup is another key part of the phone. The Duo has a 48MP main camera and a 48MP ultrawide camera. The foldable shape also allows new ways to take photos and videos.
Apple iPhone Duo: A costly phone enters a small market
Apple has entered into a foldable market that is still much smaller than the wider smartphone business. The $1,999 starting price also makes the Duo the most expensive iPhone. That price is likely to be one of the biggest talking points. Some buyers may like a phone that opens into a much larger screen. Others may feel the cost is too high.
The top storage version can reach $3,199, making the gap even wider between the Duo and normal premium phones. Still, Apple has a large base of loyal users. That gives the foldable phone business a strong starting point. The launch was also important because it came during CEO John Ternus’ first major event. The company is using the Duo to show a different idea of what an iPhone can be.
Can Apple iPhone Duo change the foldable market?
Analysts expect Apple’s entry to put fresh pressure on Samsung and Chinese brands such as Huawei. IDC expects Apple could take about 40 percent of the foldable phone market by the end of 2027. That is a forecast, not a guarantee. The timing matters too. Samsung and other makers have sold foldable phones for years, so Apple is entering a market that is no longer new. Its challenge is to make the Duo simple and useful for people who have never owned a foldable phone.
Pre-orders will start on October 16, with sales beginning on October 23. It will be sold in more than 70 countries and regions, including India. The Duo may not become a phone for everyone. At $1,999, it sits firmly in the luxury range. But Apple has shown that it wants a place in the foldable market. Now the real test begins: whether buyers will see enough value to make the jump.
Author’s Opinion
The iPhone Duo is a big step for Apple, but the price will be hard for many buyers to accept. The design looks useful, yet the company must prove that a foldable iPhone offers enough value to justify the cost.
READ MORE: Microsoft shifts Copilot toward AI that gets work done.
ALSO READ: Tesla cybercab launch triggers NHTSA safety probe.
READ NEXT: Apple hit with ยฃ2bn UK legal fight over app tracking.
