Apple could bring Face ID and a telephoto camera to a future iPhone Duo, addressing two of the most notable omissions from the company’s first foldable iPhone.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says the two features are likely to be among Apple’s priorities for future generations of the device, with his expectation being that both could arrive by the third-generation iPhone Duo.
The first-generation iPhone Duo, which launches on October 23, uses Touch ID integrated into the side button instead of Face ID. Its rear camera system is also limited to a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera and 48-megapixel Fusion Ultra Wide camera, with no dedicated telephoto lens.
According to Gurman, the challenge is largely physical. Face ID hardware and a telephoto camera require additional depth, making them difficult to accommodate within the unusually thin halves of a foldable device.
Gurman believes Apple could eventually overcome those constraints through a combination of smaller components and advances in artificial intelligence. That could allow Apple to use more compact depth-sensing and camera hardware while relying more heavily on computational processing.
The prediction suggests Apple may view the current iPhone Duo hardware as a starting point rather than a finished template. The first-generation model already makes several compromises compared with iPhone 18 Pro in exchange for its folding design and much larger internal display.
Face ID would be a particularly significant change. Apple’s flagship iPhones have relied on facial authentication for years, making iPhone Duo’s return to Touch ID one of the clearest differences between the foldable and the conventional Pro lineup.
A telephoto camera would similarly narrow the gap with Apple’s Pro models. As The Apple Post noted in its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo comparison, photography is currently one of the strongest reasons to choose the conventional Pro model over Apple’s foldable.
Gurman’s comments are a prediction rather than a firm report that Apple has finalized these features for a particular generation, meaning plans and timing could change considerably before a third-generation iPhone Duo arrives.
For now, Apple’s first iPhone Duo will go on sale next month starting at $1,999 in the United States, with pre-orders opening October 16 ahead of its October 23 launch.