Apple launches iPhone Duo foldable from $1,999

Apple has entered the foldable phone market with the iPhone Duo, a device priced from $1,999. The phone has a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer display, and measures passport-size when folded, according to Digital Today.

Reviewers described the iPhone Duo as the most interesting Apple device in 10 years, the report said.

Counterpoint forecast to Bloomberg that iPhone Duo sales will reach 6 million units in 2026.

A market that took years to mature

Foldable phones first drew mainstream attention around 2019, but early products such as Royole's FlexPai were criticized for clumsy design, awkward size and low polish. Samsung's first Galaxy Fold, pursued for release the same year, raised durability concerns near $2,000 and faced screen damage issues, prompting Samsung to delay the launch, recall review units and revise the design.

Huawei's Mate X used an outward-folding design that was praised aesthetically but was vulnerable to scratches and impacts, and US technology sanctions hindered its expansion; Huawei later switched to an inward-folding design with the Mate X2. From 2020 to 2025, Samsung applied ultra-thin glass to its clamshell foldables and added water resistance, while Google applied IP68 to the 2025 Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Oppo's 2021 Find N offered a less visible crease and Honor's Magic V series focused on reducing thickness, and Samsung responded with a thinner Galaxy Z Fold7. Cheaper clamshell models also brought foldables closer to mainstream flagship prices.