Rumor claims iPhone Duo 2 could launch in spring 2027 ahead of iPhone Ultra

A new rumor claims Apple could launch the second-generation iPhone Duo as early as spring 2027, just months after the first model reaches customers, in a move that would reportedly clear Apple’s traditional fall launch window for the long-rumored 20th-anniversary iPhone Ultra.

The claim comes from leaker Majin Bu, who says the iPhone Duo 2 could arrive in spring next year, with Apple then using its fall event to introduce the anniversary iPhone Ultra and potentially another major new iPhone model alongside it. Majin Bu went as far as putting the likelihood of a spring launch at “80%” when questioned about the claim on X.

On the face of it, the timing sounds unlikely. The first iPhone Duo does not launch until October 23, meaning a spring 2027 successor could arrive only months into the original model’s life. Such a short first-generation cycle would be highly unusual for an iPhone, particularly for an entirely new product category starting at $1,999.

That said, Majin Bu’s claim is harder to dismiss outright after the leaker correctly revealed the iPhone Duo name before Apple’s September event. The Apple Post reported on September 8 that Majin Bu was claiming Apple’s foldable would be called iPhone Duo at a time when the device was widely expected to use the iPhone Ultra name. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman subsequently backed the Duo branding shortly before Apple officially unveiled the device.

Majin Bu has also correctly reported several other Apple details in the past, including the iPhone 16e name, Desert Titanium for iPhone 16 Pro, Apple’s redesigned Milanese Loop for Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Mac-like menu bar introduced with iPadOS 26. Leaks shared by the source also offered an early look at the major camera-bar redesign that ultimately defined parts of the iPhone 17 lineup.

However, the leaker has a mixed track record. Previous claims have included an iPhone 16e with Dynamic Island, which did not happen, as well as other reports that either failed to materialize on the suggested timetable or proved only partially accurate. The claimed spring 2027 timing should therefore be treated as an early rumor rather than a settled part of Apple’s roadmap.

A spring launch would nevertheless help explain how Apple could handle an increasingly crowded iPhone calendar. Moving the next Duo away from September would give the company more room to focus attention on its 20th-anniversary iPhone, which has long been rumored to represent a major redesign for the product’s 2027 milestone.

For now, there is no independent confirmation that Apple intends to replace the first iPhone Duo so quickly. With the original model still more than a month away from reaching customers, Apple’s plans for a second generation could also change considerably before spring 2027.