iPhone Duo: Your ultimate handbook to Apple’s foldable smartphone

After years of speculation and months of substantial leaks, Apple’s first-ever folding phone is finally here, and it’s called the iPhone Duo. Even though foldable phones are nothing new in the world of tech, Apple is known for taking its time with introducing new categories, and it’s clear that the brand has learned a lot from the competition.

The iPhone Duo (previously thought to be called the iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold) was announced alongside a ton of other devices, including the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, while the wearables division debuted the very sleek Apple Watch Series 12 and the robust Apple Watch Ultra 4.

As we expected, follow-ups to the iPhone 17, the iPhone 17e and the iPhone Air were nowhere to be seen, but the word on the street is that Apple will be showing off these phones in a separate event next Spring.

In the meantime, however, it’s the iPhone Duo that will inevitably dominate the conversation, particularly as fans weigh up whether to buy another Pro-level iPhone or make the jump into the world of foldables. If you’re thinking about picking up the iPhone Duo as your next phone, then here’s everything you need to know.

iPhone Duo: What’s new?

A tablet-like display on the go

It might sound obvious to point out, but the biggest allure of the iPhone Duo is that the phone gives you access to a massive, iPad Mini-like 7.6-inch display at any time. As Apple showed off during its reveal event, having instant access to a screen like that is perfect for things like catching up on a bit of TV, seeing more desktop-style versions of apps like Slack, as well as gaming.

When you don’t feel like using the inner display, there’s a more compact 5.4-inch outer panel that’s ideal for quickly responding to messages or getting directions in a pinch. The whole thing is very similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, which launched in August.

Multitasking for the first time on iPhone

Beyond the ability to watch a bit of Apple TV on a larger display, all of that added real estate is precisely what makes foldable phones such a great option for productivity on the go, and while multitasking is a feature that’s been absent from previous iPhones, it is readily available on the iPhone Duo.

Apple showed off a bunch of configurations, such as opening up two windows of Safari at once for a bit of price comparison whilst shopping, or sending an email while you’re also looking at the notes app for reference. There are tons of possibilities here, but it’s sure to be a game-changer for productivity fans who have been waiting to have iPad-like functionality in a smaller form factor.

A tailor-made version of iOS

Because of its two screens, which are differently proportioned from the norm, not to mention the addition of multitasking and all that brings with it, Apple has gone back to the drawing board and re-invisioned its iOS platform, but for the foldable concept.

On top of a very slick animation that now takes place when you open up the iPhone Duo’s interior display, the individual app controls which would typically appear along the bottom of the screen for easy access for your thumb have been repositioned to appear vertically on the side of the display.

This also goes for the lockscreen, as your quick access buttons are now stacked on top of one another on the right-hand side, while information that was typically visible at all times, including whether or not the phone is connected to Wi-Fi and the remaining battery life, has been condensed into a single icon in the top right-hand corner, just below the selfie camera.

A dual-battery system

To ensure that the iPhone Duo actually has enough juice in the tank to keep the whole thing powered up through everyday use, the phone uses two batteries under the hood to deliver up to 31 hours of video playback just when using the inner display. For context, that’s not far behind the 37 hours that’s capable on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the battery claim jumps to 44 hours when only using the outer display.

While we won’t know exactly how well the iPhone Duo holds up to scrutiny until we get it in for testing, this does all sound promising, particularly for getting proper all-day battery life that won’t leave you panicked and running around looking for a charger. The addition of the new A20 Pro chipset as well as the upgraded C2 modem should also help with overall power efficiency.

When is the iPhone Duo release date?

Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo are set to go live at 1pm on 16 September, with the phone set for general release on 23 October.

This is over a month after the iPhone 18 Pro range is set to hit the scene on 18 September.

How much does the iPhone Duo cost?

Brace yourself, the entry-level cost for the iPhone Duo is set at £1,999/$1,999.

Admittedly, that isn’t quite as expensive as some rumours suggested the phone would be, but that pricing does make it the most costly iPhone in the entire range.

Although the phone does cost a fair bit more than the cheapest iPhone 18 Pro Max (£1,299/$1,299), the more important comparison is that the Duo is, for the most part, more expensive than its closest foldable rivals.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, which also has a similar compact design, starts at £1,699/$1,899.99 while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra rings in at £1,899/$2,099.99, meaning that it only beats Samsung on price for the Ultra in the US.

iPhone Duo prices:

• 256GB – £1,999/$1,999
• 512GB – £2,199/$2,199
• 1TB – £2,599/$2,599
• 2TB – £3,199/$3,199