Apple has officially unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, at its “Surprise and Shine” event. The device comes in a “passport” form factor with two displays and is positioned as one of the most promising models among foldable phones.
According to Apple, the iPhone Duo is the biggest change to the iPhone line-up since the very first model and showcases the potential of tight integration between hardware and software.
The smartphone is equipped with two Super Retina XDR displays with the same aspect ratio: the inner screen has a 7.6‑inch diagonal (resolution 1,878 x 2,670), while the outer one measures 5.4 inches (1,398 x 2,034). Both support ProMotion, Always On, peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits and work with the Apple Pencil stylus, making the Duo one of the first iPhones with official stylus support.
The chassis is made of Grade 5 titanium, while the hinge combines titanium and aluminium. The model is rated IP68 for protection and is resistant to splashes, water and dust. Ceramic Shield is used on the front and back when the device is closed. The handset weighs 254 g.
The dimensions of the iPhone Duo are 164.6 x 117.8 x 5.2 mm when open and 84.1 x 117.8 x 11.3 mm when folded. The smartphone is available in two colours: Night Sky and Star White.
The device runs on the new A20 Pro processor, just like the iPhone 18 Pro series, and is fitted with Apple’s own C2 modem which, according to the company, is 50% faster and 15% more energy-efficient than the previous C1X. RAM is 12 GB, and internal storage options are 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB.
Security is handled by Touch ID in the side button, and unlocking with an Apple Watch is also supported. A dedicated physical Camera Control button is used for quick camera launch. Speakers are placed at the top and bottom of the chassis.
The main camera module includes a 48 MP Fusion Ultrawide camera, as in the iPhone 18 Pro, and a 2x telephoto lens. The smartphone supports video recording at up to 4K resolution at 120 frames per second. The cameras can operate in any orientation, and during FaceTime you can show both your face and the image from the outer camera at the same time. The outer display allows you to preview the frame or show people being photographed how they look in the shot.
The inner selfie camera is hidden under the display and only becomes visible when in use. The screens have a matte “nano-texture” coating which, according to Apple, reduces glare and reflections.
The battery capacity is 4,883 mAh. Apple claims up to 31 hours of use when relying solely on the inner screen, up to 44 hours on the outer screen only, and around 24 hours in mixed use. It supports 20 W wired charging, which can restore up to 50% of the charge in around 20 minutes.
iOS 27 has been adapted for the iPhone Duo. In particular, the Home Screen dock has been moved to the right on both the inner and outer displays. When the device is open, two Home Screen pages are shown, with Today View on the left as a vertical list of customisable widgets.
The battery, Wi‑Fi and LTE indicators are grouped into a circular icon beneath the camera module on the outer screen and slightly above it on the inner one. Users can open two apps side by side, and the interface responds to the angle of the fold, allowing the smartphone to be used in a half-folded mode, similar to a portable console.
When the phone is laid down, it switches to Standby mode, with configurable information on display in both the closed and folded states. In some apps, including Safari, you can open a second window next to the first. Video can be pinned to the top of the screen in portrait orientation while you continue using other apps such as iMessage. The system has an updated artificial intelligence engine and a new version of Siri built in.
The iPhone Duo is fitted with a 4,883 mAh battery and supports 20 W wired charging. According to Apple, up to 50% of the charge can be restored in around 20 minutes.
The starting price of the iPhone Duo is $1,999 or AU$3,499. The model is available with storage capacities from 256 GB up to 2 TB. Pre-orders will open on 16 October, and the smartphone will go on sale on 23 October.
You can watch Tom’s Guide’s video review of the iPhone Duo here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qNfOa5AuVU