Apple Finally Enters the Foldable Phone Market
Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone and one of the biggest design changes in the product’s history.
Launched at Apple’s September 9 event, the iPhone Duo starts at ₹2,99,900 in India. It will be available in Star White and Night Sky, with pre-orders beginning on October 16 and sales starting October 23.
7.6-Inch Foldable Display
The iPhone Duo opens into a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR folding display, giving it Apple’s largest-ever iPhone screen. On the outside is a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display that allows the device to work like a conventional smartphone when folded.
Both displays support ProMotion and Always-On functionality, while the inner screen features a nano-texture finish designed to reduce glare and make the fold crease less noticeable.
The foldable design also enables new multitasking possibilities, including running two apps side by side.
Touch ID Replaces Face ID
In another major departure from recent iPhone designs, Apple has replaced Face ID with Touch ID integrated into the side button.
The Duo also uses an under-display FaceTime camera for its inner screen and supports Apple Pencil, bringing some capabilities previously associated mainly with the iPad to the iPhone.
Apple has also eliminated the physical SIM card slot, with the device relying on dual eSIM technology.
A20 Pro Chip and Dual 48MP Cameras
The iPhone Duo is powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chip, paired with a seven-core GPU and Neural Accelerators. Apple has also used a vapour-cooling system to help manage heat during demanding workloads.
The camera system includes a 48MP Dual Fusion setup, with 48MP main and ultra-wide cameras. A 12MP Centre Stage front camera handles video calls and selfies, while the system supports features such as Dual Capture and stabilised video.
Dual Batteries and Longer Playback
Apple has fitted the foldable with a dual-battery system. The company claims up to 24 hours of typical use and up to 44 hours of video playback when using the outer display.
The Duo supports fast charging, MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W and USB-C connectivity.
Siri AI and iOS 27
The foldable runs iOS 27, redesigned to take advantage of its flexible form factor. Apple’s next-generation Apple Intelligence features are also built into the device, including the new Siri AI.
The software is designed to make better use of the larger screen for multitasking, content consumption and AI-assisted tasks.
Apple’s Most Expensive iPhone
At ₹2,99,900, the iPhone Duo becomes Apple’s most expensive mainstream iPhone and places the company firmly in the ultra-premium foldable segment.
Its arrival also puts Apple into direct competition with established foldable-phone makers such as Samsung and Google, after years in which Apple remained outside the category.
Summary: Apple has launched its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, at ₹2,99,900 in India. It features a 7.6-inch inner display, 5.4-inch outer screen, A20 Pro chip, dual 48MP cameras, Touch ID, dual batteries and iOS 27 with Siri AI. Pre-orders begin October 16, with sales starting October 23, 2026.
