Key facts
- Apple has launched its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo.
- The device features a 7.6-inch unfolded Retina display and a 5.4-inch outer screen.
- iOS 27 is adapted for the foldable form factor, enabling split-screen and docked controls.
- The iPhone Duo uses Touch ID and can be unlocked via Apple Watch.
- The phone's design opens into a rectangle with rounded corners, a departure from its traditional flat design.
- Counterpoint predicts the iPhone Duo could capture 25% of the foldable market share by year-end.
Apple has unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, at its annual September hardware event. This marks the most significant design change for the iPhone since its 2007 launch, moving away from the traditional flat, rectangular form factor.
CEO John Ternus stated that Apple aimed to create a larger display that felt as natural and intuitive as an iPad, critiquing other foldables for feeling like "two phones awkwardly stuck together." The iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch unfolded Retina display and a 5.4-inch outer screen. When opened, it can utilize two displays on each side of the hinge, offering a 50% larger screen than the iPhone 18 Pro Max and 80% larger than the 18 Pro.
iOS 27 has been adapted for the new form factor, allowing for split-screen functionality, side-docked controls, and operation in a half-folded state. The device also includes Touch ID and can be unlocked via an Apple Watch. The design opens into a rectangle with rounded corners, echoing Apple's 2012 design patent.
While competitors like Samsung, Honor, Oppo, and Huawei have already introduced foldable phones, Apple's entry is expected to significantly boost the segment's demand. Despite foldables currently representing less than 2% of global smartphone shipments, analytics firm Counterpoint forecasts the iPhone Duo could capture up to 25% of this niche market by year-end.
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