Apple’s first foldable iPhone is here, and after getting my hands on it at Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event in Cupertino, the thing that impressed me most wasn’t the folding screen. It was how Apple made the software work around it.
The new iPhone Duo has a 5.4-inch screen on the outside, then opens to reveal a much larger 7.6-inch display. The transition between the two is especially slick. As you unfold the phone, whatever is on screen smoothly expands onto the larger display. It almost looks like you’re unfolding a piece of transparent glass.
Of course, foldable phones aren’t new. Samsung, Google and others have been making them for years. Apple’s approach feels less about reinventing the category and more about polishing the experience.
iOS 27 lets you run two apps side by side, and apps automatically adapt as you open and close the phone. You can partially fold the Duo to watch video, take pictures or even use it as a bedside clock without a stand. Apple Pencil support is coming later this year.
The inner screen is glare resistant, and while there’s technically still a crease down the middle, I found it barely noticeable. The phone is also surprisingly thin and easy to hold, with IP68 water and dust resistance.
There are compromises. The dual 48-megapixel camera system isn’t as capable as what you’ll find on Apple’s Pro models. There’s also no Face ID. Instead, Touch ID is built into the side button.
My quick take after using it: the software is the real differentiator. Apple has taken a lot of ideas we’ve already seen on other foldables, refined them and made iOS feel like it was actually designed for this form factor. Despite the completely different hardware, using the Duo still feels very much like using an iPhone.
The biggest hurdle might be the price. The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 with 256GB of storage. Preorders begin October 16, with availability starting October 23.
Now we’ll find out how many iPhone users are ready to spend $2,000 to fold their phone in half.
