Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first-ever foldable phone, at a September 9 launch event, with new CEO John Ternus reviving the company's 'One More Thing' announcement style to reveal it. The passport-sized device unfolds to a 7.6-inch main display and will arrive in stores October 23, starting preorders October 16. Analysts including CCS Insight's Ben Wood, IDC's Nabila Popal, and Michael Gartenberg reacted positively, with Gartenberg calling it 'a solid first generation of foldables' despite Apple arriving later to the category than Samsung and Google.
The Duo includes several features that distinguish it from Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8. Apple gave the Duo an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, while the Z Fold 8 is only rated IP48, meaning it lacks dust protection. The Duo also supports the Apple Pencil (USB-C) stylus — a feature Samsung dropped from its foldables starting with the Z Fold 7 — and includes MagSafe compatibility, which Samsung's foldable does not offer. Charging is also faster on the Duo, with 60W wired and 25W wireless speeds compared to the Z Fold 8's 45W wired and 20W wireless.
Apple's foldable uses a nano-texture display finish, previously seen on the MacBook Pro and Studio Display, which Wood said improves readability in bright light and minimizes the visible crease. Ternus described seeing the nano-texture technology on a prototype as an 'a-ha' moment, and said Apple developed a new method to apply it to a polymer surface rather than glass. The frame uses grade 5 titanium, with Ceramic Shield 2 protecting the front display. Apple also redesigned iOS 27 for the foldable, moving app controls and the dock to the side of the screen, and worked with developers to optimize apps like Netflix, Slack, and Zoom for the Duo's dual-screen format — an approach Apple executives compared to how the company handled iPad app development.
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, making it the most expensive iPhone Apple sells, which some analysts flagged as a potential barrier. Techsponential's Avi Greengart said the price would put the phone out of reach for some but noted financing options exist; Apple offers 24 monthly installments of $83.29, or a lease option through the Apple Upgrade program for $57.99 per month. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at $1,899, a $100 difference that Greengart said isn't likely to be a major factor. Ternus defended the pricing, saying the device represents 'a really good value' given its engineering complexity.
The two phones diverge in some areas where Samsung holds an edge. The Z Fold 8 is thinner and lighter than the Duo, and offers a RAM upgrade option, face unlocking, and a desktop mode for connecting to a monitor — features not mentioned for the Duo. Apple, meanwhile, ditched the Duo's under-display selfie camera concept for video calls in favor of a higher-resolution main and cover camera setup compared to Samsung's offering. The Duo also includes an A20 Pro chipset with vapor chamber cooling for sustained performance, a feature the Z Fold 8 lacks, though Tom's Guide has not yet completed performance or thermal testing on the Duo.
Foldable phones remain a small but growing segment of the smartphone market, with CCS Insight reporting 25 million foldables sold in 2025, up 18% from the previous year. Wood expects further growth as the iPhone Duo enters the category. Apple has also begun offering official cases for the Duo in navy blue and sand, with more third-party options expected soon given the device's high price and premium positioning.