Apple has unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, with a starting price of $1,999 and availability from 23 October. The device opens and closes like a passport, doubling its screen size.
The launch was the first major product event led by John Ternus since he became Apple’s chief executive on 1 September, replacing Tim Cook.
A new design for the iPhone line
Apple said the Duo was designed to avoid the feeling of two phones joined together, with a larger display intended to feel as natural to use as an iPad. Ternus described the foldable design as a way to make the iPhone an “intelligent personal hub”.
The company’s move follows the release of foldable smartphones by competitors since the late 2010s. Apple reportedly tested folding-display prototypes in early 2021, although there were no launch plans at that time, according to a Bloomberg report.
Key points
- The iPhone Duo is Apple’s thinnest iPhone and has the company’s largest phone display when opened.
- Apple said the device combines the portability and features of an iPhone with a larger display inspired by the iPad.
- The product event, titled “Surprise and Shine”, began at 10am Pacific time at Apple’s campus in Cupertino, California.
Ternus leads first major Apple launch
Ternus took the stage for the first time as Apple’s chief executive after succeeding Cook. In a note to employees on his first day, he pointed to products already in development and a major launch he said would be “phenomenal”.
The foldable iPhone arrives as foldable phones remain a small part of overall mobile-device sales, while interest in standard iPhones remains high, according to the supplied account of the event.
Apple also updates its other products
Apple introduced the iPhone 18 Pro, starting at $1,199, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max, starting at $1,299. The company highlighted Siri AI features that it said can work with more than 300,000 third-party apps. It said battery life would reach 36 hours on the iPhone 18 Pro and 45 hours on the Pro Max.
The company also announced AirPods 5, starting at $129, and introduced the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. The watches will include an “Audio Intelligence” feature for recording ambient conversations, creating notes and providing a transcript of what was said 15 seconds earlier; Apple said recordings are stored on the device and collected data is end-to-end encrypted.
Apple also announced updates to its AirPods and Apple Watch lines over the coming months, along with its first touchscreen MacBook.
What happens next
The iPhone Duo will become available on 23 October.
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