iPhone Duo – all the nuances of the first foldable iPhone
After the presentation of the first foldable iPhone Duo, it became clear that Apple left many interesting details outside the event. Some of them were revealed on the official website, while others became known after journalists’ initial impressions.
Chassis and weight
In its unfolded state, the iPhone Duo is just 5.2 mm thick—thinner than the iPhone Air at 5.64 mm. When folded, the thickness increases to 11.3 mm.
At the same time, Apple has dropped the Action Button, and the smartphone also lacks a dedicated physical silent mode switch. Users will need to switch the device to silent mode via the iOS interface. Camera Control remains.
Despite its slim body, the iPhone Duo is not light. The smartphone weighs 254 grams, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and Xiaomi 18 Fold weigh 201 and 219 grams respectively with a similar form factor.
The iPhone Duo design uses Grade 5 titanium. The frame and hinge cover are made from it. The front screen is protected by Ceramic Shield 2, while the back panel features Ceramic Shield.
Screen
The internal display features a nano-textured coating that reduces glare and reflections while giving the surface a matte finish. Apple was unable to fully hide the crease: it remains visible from certain angles. However, in initial impressions, journalists note that the fold line is subtle during normal use.
Apple Pencil support
The iPhone Duo became the first iPhone to support Apple Pencil. The stylus can be used on both the inner and outer screens.
The feature will arrive later in 2026; Apple has not yet announced the exact date. The specifications list only the Apple Pencil (USB-C), while the Pencil Pro is absent from the list of compatible models.
Water protection
The foldable smartphone is certified to the IP68 standard. In laboratory conditions, the device is rated for submersion at depths up to 6 meters for durations up to 30 minutes.
Apple separately warns that water and dust resistance is not a permanent property and may decrease due to natural wear.
Cameras
The main system includes two 48-MP cameras. The primary camera is equipped with a lens featuring an equivalent focal length of 26 mm, an f/1.6 aperture, and optical image stabilization with sensor shift. It also delivers 2x optical-quality zoom.
The 48-MP ultra-wide camera features a 13 mm lens with an f/2.2 aperture and a 120° field of view. It supports macro photography.
Apple does not disclose the physical dimensions of its sensors, so it cannot be claimed that the main sensor in the iPhone Duo is smaller than the one installed in the iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro.
The front camera of the external display is a 12-MP Center Stage with an f/2.2 aperture. It allows switching the frame orientation between portrait and landscape without rotating the smartphone itself. For comparison, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro are equipped with 18-MP Center Stage cameras featuring an f/1.9 aperture.
Another camera is located under the internal display. Apple calls it the Under-display FaceTime camera. It features an f/1.8 aperture and supports 1080p video recording at 30 or 60 frames per second, QuickTake, automatic stabilization, and Center Stage during video calls.
At the same time, the camera is not limited to video calls: Apple’s specifications also include photo and Live Photos capture with a wide color gamut.
Face ID is not available in the iPhone Duo. Touch ID, integrated into the side button, is used for biometric authentication.
Battery life
When playing video, the iPhone Duo lasts up to 44 hours with the external display and up to 31 hours with the internal display. Apple also claims up to 24 hours of typical usage.
For comparison, the U.S. Apple website lists up to 36 and 45 hours of video playback for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, respectively.
Up to 50% of the iPhone Duo can be charged in about 20 minutes with an adapter of at least 60 W and a USB-C cable. With MagSafe, charging to 50% takes around 30 minutes using an adapter rated from 35 W. The maximum wireless charging power for MagSafe and Qi2 is 25 W.
iOS
The iPhone Duo will go on sale with iOS 27.1, adapted for the foldable form factor and dual displays.
Apps built for SDK and earlier on iOS 27 will continue to work, but may launch in a restricted area on the internal screen, leaving unused space around the interface.
Apps built for iOS 27 SDK utilize most of the internal display, while iOS 27.1 SDK enables rendering the interface to the screen edges and automatically positions standard navigation and tool panels vertically.
If the app already uses standard iOS components and responsive layout, developers will not need to completely redesign the interface manually.
Connection
The iPhone Duo is equipped with a USB-C port supporting USB 3 and data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbit/s. For comparison, USB 2 is limited to speeds up to 480 Mbit/s. The port also supports DisplayPort.
Like the iPhone Air, the foldable smartphone works only with eSIM and has no slot for a physical SIM card. Two eSIMs can be used simultaneously, while eight or more can be stored in the device’s memory.
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread and UWB second generation are also supported. Wi-Fi operation in the 6 GHz band depends on the frequencies permitted in a specific country or region.
Price and release date
Preorders for the iPhone Duo will open on October 16, and sales will begin on October 23.
In the U.S.:
- 256 GB – $1999
- 512 GB – $2199
- 1 TB – $2599
- 2 TB – $3199
There is no single price for all of Europe. The base version with a 256 GB storage costs €2299 in Germany, €2339 in France, Spain, and the Netherlands, €2369 in Italy and Ireland. In the United Kingdom, prices start at £1999.
