Apple Unveils First Foldable iPhone 'iPhone Duo'
Apple unveiled its first foldable iPhone ‘iPhone Duo’ at a new product launch event held at its headquarters in Cupertino, California on the 9th (local time). This represents a major form factor transformation 19 years after the first iPhone's launch in 2007, marking Apple's first challenge to the foldable phone market, which has been led by Samsung Electronics.
The iPhone Duo features a book-fold (infolding) design with a 19.3cm (approximately 7.6-inch) inner display when unfolded. It is the largest screen ever on an iPhone, 50% wider than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. When folded, the outer display is 13.6cm, approximately 90% of the iPhone 18 Pro screen area, with both screens having the same aspect ratio so content flows seamlessly when opening and closing. It is also the thinnest iPhone ever in its unfolded state.
Titanium body·Precision hinge...Directly addressing durability and creasing concerns
Apple directly tackled durability and creasing issues, which have been noted weaknesses of foldable phones. The body is made from Grade 5 titanium, and a precision hinge comprised of over 100 components keeps the screen center perfectly flat. The inner display features a nano-texture finish that reduces glare and makes creases less visible, while the front includes ‘Ceramic Shield 2’ with 3x better scratch resistance than the previous generation. It also supports water and dust resistance (IP68).
The brain is the same A20 Pro chip with 2-nanometer process technology as the iPhone 18 Pro. Combined with a custom vapor chamber for heat dissipation and dual batteries on both sides, Apple states it can play video for up to 44 hours on the outer screen and up to 31 hours on the inner screen on a single charge.
“A device for the AI era”...Siri AI·Split View equipped
Apple positioned the iPhone Duo as “a device for the artificial intelligence (AI) era.” Along with the new iOS 27 operating system, it supports multitasking with ‘Split View’, displaying two apps side by side for the first time on iPhone, and features a new voice assistant ‘Siri AI’ based on Apple Intelligence that understands users' personal context to find information in messages, emails, and photos. It is also possible to work on one side of the screen while conversing with Siri on the other.
Camera features utilizing the foldable structure are also noteworthy. Examples include ‘Duo Preview’, which lets you take selfies with the rear 48-megapixel fusion camera while checking composition on the outer screen, and ‘Smart Capture’, where on-device AI automatically captures when the subject poses even if the photographer is not behind the camera.
Apple Chief Executive Officer John Ternus stated, “iPhone Duo is the most innovative and groundbreaking change since the first iPhone,” and “it will redefine the usability of foldable phones.”
The device comes in two colors: Star White and Night Sky. The domestic starting price is 3.29 million won (US$1,999), with pre-orders beginning October 16th and official launch on October 23rd. South Korea is included in the first wave of launch countries.
With this, the foldable phone market, which Samsung Electronics has led for over 7 years with its Galaxy Z Fold and Flip series, is expected to be reorganized into a two-way competitive structure. If Apple's entry accelerates foldable phone adoption, considerable ripple effects are anticipated for South Korea's display and component industries, which supply foldable panels and components.