Apple has unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the $1,999 iPhone Duo, positioning the device at the top end of its flagship smartphone range as the company pushes further into the premium market.
The passport-style device features a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer screen. Pre-orders will open on October 16, with availability beginning on October 23 across more than 70 countries and regions.
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for the 256GB model, with storage configurations extending up to 2TB, making it the most expensive iPhone launched by Apple.
Apple said the device is powered by its A20 Pro chip, which delivers up to 35 per cent better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro.
The foldable also features a dual-battery architecture and 48-megapixel main and ultra-wide cameras. It runs iOS 27, which includes foldable-specific features such as side-by-side Split View multitasking.
“iPhone Duo is the most transformational change to iPhone since the original,” Apple chief executive John Ternus said.
The launch was Ternus’ first iPhone event as Apple chief executive after succeeding Tim Cook on September 1.
Apple also introduced the iPhone 18 Pro, starting at $1,199, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max, starting at $1,299. Pre-orders for the Pro models begin on September 12, with availability starting on September 18.
Notably, Apple did not announce a standard iPhone 18, further shifting this year’s smartphone line-up towards higher-priced premium models.
The company also unveiled AirPods 5, starting at $129, alongside the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, which retain starting prices of $399 and $799 respectively.
Apple shares fell by as much as 2 per cent during the presentation before turning positive after the event, gaining more than 0.5 per cent.
Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani said the combination of the iPhone 18 Pro upgrades and the broader line-up should support continued iPhone momentum and encourage upgrades, particularly among users whose devices are more than three years old.
