Apple today introduced its first foldable device, named the iPhone Duo, at its “Surprise and Shine” iPhone event held in Cupertino. The phone is the first marquee device launched under the company’s new CEO, John Ternus.
Unlike early iterations of foldables, which looked like vertical slabs, Apple adopted a wider form factor that could aid in a better aspect ratio while watching videos when the device is unfolded.
The unfolded display is a 7.6-inch Retina display, and the outer display is 5.4 inches. The company said that the new device was “Inspired by the versatility of iPad” and also showed how people can use it unfolded in a vertical mode. The inner display also features an “under-display” camera that can give users an all-screen feel.
Apple said that it used a custom nanotexture finish to hide the crease and reduce glare. Most foldables still have a visible crease, but companies like Oppo have made strides towards an almost seamless phone.
Notably, the device only has Touch ID, with Face ID missing. You can unlock the device using the Apple Watch, though.
The device is powered by the new A20 Pro chip and C2 model, which allows for faster uploads. Just like last year’s iPhone Air, this particular model is eSIM-only.
On the battery front, the company said that with the inner display, users can get 31 hours of video playback, and with the outer display, 44 hours of video playback.
The phone features a 48-megapixel fusion main camera and a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera with 2x optical zoom. This dual camera setup skips a telephoto camera.
The company has also made iOS 27 adaptable to the new foldable; essential controls like Wi-Fi move to the side and dock on the home screen vertically oriented. Users can use apps in split screen and also pair the apps. If someone is using the phone vertically, they can pin a video on top and use other apps in the bottom half. One of the fascinating features is that users will be able to use the iPhone half-folded or even set it on a table.
Rivals like Samsung and Xiaomi have already launched their version of wide foldables before the Apple launch, give the iPhone Duo can spur demand for the form factor.
According to analytics firm Counterpoint, foldables contribute to less than 2% of shipments in the overall smartphone market. However, Apple’s new phone could be an instant hit, as the analytics firm said the Duo could garner up to 25% market share by the end of the year.