Apple Unveils $1,999 iPhone Duo, First Foldable Phone Designed to Be Folded Exactly Once
The 7.6-inch device opens flat for a "magical" first impression, after which Apple recommends leaving it that way.
CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple this week began shipping the iPhone Duo, its first foldable device, which the company says delivers "a stunning, seamless transition from phone to tablet" and which the company's own support documentation suggests performing "as needed, ideally not more than once."
The $1,999 device features a 7.6-inch inner display, a 2-nanometer A20 Pro chip, and a proprietary hinge that Apple engineers spent six years perfecting and that the warranty describes as "a wear item."
"When you first open the Duo, you'll feel something," said Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering during the keynote, unfolding the device with a slow, reverent motion that a source later confirmed had been rehearsed 200 times to minimize stress on the crease. "We want every customer to have that feeling. Then we want them to think about whether they need it again."
The Duo ships with a new "Fold Awareness" feature that tracks each opening and closing and displays the count on the lock screen next to the battery, along with a small message. Early messages include "Beautiful," "Nice," "Still good," and, at fold 400, "You've clearly enjoyed the Duo. AppleCare+ is available."
Reviewers praised the display, the camera, and the performance, and expressed cautious enthusiasm about the crease, which Apple has branded "the Seam" and describes as "part of the design language." A crease that becomes visible in normal use is covered under warranty; a crease that becomes visible because the user "kept doing that" is not.
The company said demand has exceeded expectations, and that a version that folds twice is targeted for 2029, alongside its enterprise AI server and a working Siri.