Apple has officially launched its first foldable iPhone, and iPhone Duo is far more than a conventional iPhone with a folding screen. The new model introduces two displays, a redesigned version of iOS 27, iPhone’s first true side-by-side multitasking system, Touch ID, Apple Pencil support and an entirely new approach to cameras and battery design.
For anyone considering Apple’s most radical iPhone in years, here is everything you need to know about iPhone Duo, including its displays, design, cameras, performance, battery life, software, colors, storage, price and release date.
What is iPhone Duo?
iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable iPhone. Closed, it behaves much like a compact conventional iPhone through its 5.4-inch outer display. Open it and the device reveals a 7.6-inch inner display, the largest screen Apple has ever offered on an iPhone.
Image: Apple
The phone is built from grade 5 titanium and comes in two finishes, star white and night sky. Apple has developed a precision hinge and reinforced folding display specifically for the new form factor, while the inner screen uses a nano-texture finish to reduce reflections and make the crease less noticeable.
iPhone Duo display sizes
The outer Super Retina XDR display measures 5.4 inches and provides around 90 percent of the screen area of iPhone 18 Pro. Apple says the compact size is designed to remain comfortable for one-handed use.
Opening iPhone Duo reveals a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display that is 50 percent larger than the display on iPhone 18 Pro Max. Both screens share the same aspect ratio so apps and content can transition proportionally as the phone is opened and closed.
Image: Apple
Both displays support ProMotion, Always On and up to 3,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness.
Does iPhone Duo have a visible crease?
Apple has specifically designed the inner display to minimize the appearance of the fold. Its nano-texture surface reduces glare and reflections, while the display itself uses a multilayer construction engineered to flex repeatedly around the hinge.
A FaceTime camera sits beneath the inner display and remains hidden when it is not being used, helping keep the large screen visually uninterrupted.
iPhone Duo multitasking and iOS 27
iOS 27 has been adapted specifically for iPhone Duo. When the device is open, users can see two Home Screen pages alongside Today View, while interface elements including the Dock and navigation controls have been repositioned to make better use of the wider display.
The biggest productivity addition is Split View. For the first time on iPhone, two apps can run side by side. Users can swap apps, save frequently used app pairs and even open two windows from the same app, such as two Safari windows.
Image: Apple
The Dynamic Island has also been redesigned to sit vertically along the side of the display and can expand for alerts and Live Activities.
Apple Pencil support
iPhone Duo will become the first iPhone to support Apple Pencil. Apple Pencil with USB-C will work with both displays, allowing users to write notes, sketch and mark up documents.
The feature will arrive later in the year rather than being available when iPhone Duo initially launches.
Touch ID instead of Face ID
Apple has taken a different approach to biometric authentication on iPhone Duo. Instead of Face ID, the foldable iPhone uses Touch ID integrated into its side button.
Users can also unlock iPhone Duo using an Apple Watch.
A20 Pro performance
iPhone Duo is powered by A20 Pro, the same generation of chip used by the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. Built using 2-nanometer process technology, the chip includes a 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU and Dual 16-core Neural Engine.
Apple says iPhone Duo delivers up to 35 percent better sustained performance than iPhone 17 Pro. A custom vapor chamber helps manage heat during demanding workloads including gaming, multitasking and on-device AI.
iPhone Duo cameras
The rear camera system includes a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with an optical-quality 2x option and a 48-megapixel Fusion Ultra Wide camera with macro photography.
The folding design enables several features unavailable on conventional iPhones. Users can take selfies using the higher-resolution rear cameras while seeing themselves on the outer display. Duo Preview can show the person being photographed a live view of the shot, while Smart Take uses on-device intelligence to recognize when subjects are posing and capture a photo automatically.
Image: Apple
Kid Cue can display Peanuts animations on the outer screen to encourage children to look toward the camera, while Duo FaceTime can extend a video call onto the outer display for people sitting alongside the user.
The 48-megapixel Main camera supports 4K video at 120 frames per second in Dolby Vision. The folding body can also act as its own stand for hands-free video, FaceTime calls and time-lapse recording.
iPhone Duo battery life
Rather than using one conventional battery, iPhone Duo has a high-energy battery on each side of the folding body. Software manages the two batteries as a single power source.
Apple rates iPhone Duo for up to 31 hours of video playback using the inner display and up to 44 hours using the outer screen. With usage divided equally between both displays, Apple quotes up to 24 hours of use per charge.
Fast wired charging can take the battery to around 50 percent in 20 minutes. MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging can reach 50 percent in approximately 30 minutes with compatible charging equipment.
StandBy without a charger
iPhone Duo introduces an expanded version of StandBy that can work on either display even when the phone is not charging. Folding the device into position can turn it into a clock, photo frame or widget display.
Calendar and Weather faces join the existing StandBy options, while users have additional customization choices for colors, fonts and complications.
Apple Intelligence and Siri AI
iPhone Duo supports Apple Intelligence and the new Siri AI experience included with iOS 27. Siri can use personal context, understand onscreen content and answer broader questions, while the larger display allows Siri to remain open alongside another app.
Other Apple Intelligence capabilities include Spatial Reframing, Extend and upgraded Clean Up tools for photos, photorealistic Image Playground generation and Safari’s Notify Me feature for monitoring webpages for changes such as restocks and price reductions.
Is iPhone Duo water resistant?
Apple rates iPhone Duo IP68 for splash, water and dust resistance. Under laboratory conditions, Apple says the phone has been tested at a maximum depth of six meters for up to 30 minutes, although water resistance can diminish through normal wear.
iPhone Duo colors and storage
iPhone Duo is available in star white and night sky. Storage options include 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB.
How much does iPhone Duo cost?
iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the United States for the 256GB model. Higher-capacity configurations are available up to 2TB.
When can you pre-order iPhone Duo?
Apple will open iPhone Duo pre-orders on Friday, October 16. The first devices will arrive and become available in stores on Friday, October 23.
The launch covers more than 70 countries and regions, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, China, France, Germany, India and Japan, with another group of markets following on October 30.
What software does iPhone Duo ship with?
iPhone Duo will ship with iOS 27.1, reflecting the additional software work required for its folding displays and new multitasking features.
iPhone Duo accessories
Apple has created dedicated accessories for the new form factor. The iPhone Duo Case costs $79 in the United States and is available in navy blue and sand. The iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand costs $129 and comes in navy blue and taupe.
Both support MagSafe and Qi2 charging, while the Folio includes a kickstand for positioning the device at different viewing angles.
Image: Apple
With its folding display, A20 Pro chip, new multitasking system and support for Apple Pencil, iPhone Duo creates a separate category within Apple’s iPhone lineup rather than simply replacing an existing model. Pre-orders begin October 16 ahead of the October 23 launch.