Apple’s first foldable iPhone, iPhone Duo, went on sale in Apple Stores yesterday, Friday 23 October, after pre-orders opened on 16 October. In the US, Apple quotes leasing from $57.99 a month.
A phone that opens into something much bigger
Closed, iPhone Duo is a fairly compact phone with a 5.4-inch outer screen. Apple says that’s 90 per cent of the screen area of the iPhone 18 Pro.
Open it up and the inner display is 50 per cent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s, making it Apple’s largest iPhone screen ever. Opened flat, it’s also the thinnest iPhone Apple has made. The inner screen has a nano-texture finish, a matte coating designed to cut glare and reflections.
The hinge is the part most people worry about with foldables. Apple says it’s precision-engineered and built to last. The phone also has an IP68 rating, so it’s protected against splashes, water and dust. It comes in two colours: star white and night sky.
iOS 27 adapts as you fold
The software reacts to how you’re holding the phone. It adjusts as you fold, rotates when you turn it sideways and switches screens when you flip it over. Both screens have the same shape, so apps carry on where you left off when you open or close it.
The big new trick is Split View, which lets you use two apps side by side on an iPhone for the first time. StandBy, the mode that turns your phone into a bedside clock or photo frame, works on either screen and doesn’t need the phone to be charging.
iPhone Duo also comes with Siri AI, Apple’s new version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. It’s rolling out as a beta (an early test version) in English with iOS 27. On the inner screen you can keep Siri open next to an app and ask about what’s on screen. There’s also a Siri mode in the Camera app for asking about whatever you point it at.
Cameras that suit the fold
On the back, there’s a 48MP Fusion Main camera with a built-in 2x zoom and a 48MP Ultra Wide camera that also handles close-up macro shots. The Center Stage front camera can take landscape selfies without you turning the phone sideways.
There’s also a second FaceTime camera hidden underneath the inner display. That means you can make video calls with the phone open, or prop it half-open on a table and go hands-free without a stand.
Power and battery
Inside is Apple’s A20 Pro chip and two batteries, which Apple says give all-day battery life. Apple says a vapour chamber, a cooling system that spreads heat away from the chip, gives up to 35 per cent better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro. That should help keep long gaming sessions running smoothly.
Apps that make use of the extra space
Apple has rounded up apps already updated for iPhone Duo. In the App Store, look for a Made for iPhone Duo badge on an app’s page, and new collections of compatible apps and games.
For entertainment, Netflix lets you browse Clips on the outer screen and then open the phone to keep watching. With the phone half-folded, Prime Video plays on the top half and shows cast details on the bottom half. The MLB app does the same with live baseball and stats, in time for the World Series. Paramount+, Apple TV and PGA Tour are on board too.
For getting things done, Zoom, Slack and Fantastical are already making use of the bigger screen. Microsoft Word and Outlook are due to follow in the coming weeks.
For gamers, Asphalt Legends is ready now. UnGodly launches in November, and Zenless Zone Zero gets its iPhone Duo update next month. On Apple Arcade, Sneaky Sasquatch and Retrocade work on both screens. Our favourite is Deck-Man, which turns the phone into a retro cassette player: open it to insert a tape, close it to listen.
New cases with a kickstand option
Apple has launched two cases. The iPhone Duo Folio comes in navy blue and taupe and has a built-in kickstand for reading, watching or FaceTime. The slimmer iPhone Duo Case comes in sand and navy blue and wraps around both halves of the phone. Both work with MagSafe, Qi2 25W and Qi-certified wireless chargers. Apple hasn’t given prices for either in its announcement.
What it means for you
If you’ve wanted a bigger screen for reading, video or two apps at once, without carrying an iPad, iPhone Duo is the iPhone made for you. If you’re happy with a normal iPhone, nothing here makes it a must-have.
Some of the features aren’t finished yet. Siri AI is still in beta and English-only, and many app updates are still on the way, including Word, Outlook and some games. If you’re unsure, it’s worth waiting a few weeks for those to arrive and for early owners to report back on the hinge.
The easiest way to decide is to try one. Apple Stores have demo units, and there’s a free Today at Apple session called “Say Hello to iPhone Duo” to show you around.
Price and availability
iPhone Duo is on sale now at Apple Stores, on apple.com and in the Apple Store app. Apple hasn’t given a full upfront price in its announcements, and all the prices it does quote are in US dollars. It hasn’t shared UK pricing.
In the US, leasing through Apple Upgrade starts at $57.99 a month over 24 months, before tax and any trade-in. Apple Trade In gives $175 to $885 credit for an eligible iPhone 13 or newer. Carrier deals with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon offer up to $1,200 credit when you trade in an iPhone 14 Pro Max or newer. Apple Card Monthly Installments, a US-only option, let you spread the cost at 0 per cent APR.