Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo, unveiled at its September 9 event.
The company described the foldable as the biggest transformation to the iPhone since the original model, introducing a new design while dropping several familiar iPhone features.
The iPhone Duo replaces Face ID with Touch ID built into the side button and removes the SIM tray and Action button. It is available in Star White and Night Sky and will be sold in India starting at ₹2,99,900.
The foldable will open for pre-orders in India on October 16 at 5:30 PM IST, with sales beginning October 23.
iPhone Duo brings two high-refresh-rate displays
The iPhone Duo features a 5.4-inch outer Super Retina XDR display and a much larger 7.6-inch inner foldable display. Apple has designed both panels with matching aspect ratios so content can transition between the folded and unfolded states without major scaling issues.
Both displays support ProMotion and Always-On functionality, with peak brightness reaching up to 3,000 nits. The inner display also features a nano-texture finish designed to reduce glare and make the foldable crease less noticeable.
The inner panel uses 10 ultra-thin layers and wide-angle OLED technology, while the FaceTime camera sits beneath the display to keep the screen uninterrupted.
Titanium build and redesigned hinge
Apple has used Grade 5 titanium for the frame and hinge cover. The front is protected by Ceramic Shield 2, which the company says offers three times the scratch resistance of the previous generation.
The iPhone Duo also carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
Apple has redesigned the hinge and internal construction to accommodate the foldable design while keeping the device usable in different positions.
A20 Pro chip powers the foldable
At the heart of the iPhone Duo is Apple's new A20 Pro chip, manufactured using a 2nm process.
The processor includes a six-core CPU that Apple says is 20% faster than the A19 Pro, alongside a seven-core GPU that delivers up to a 40% performance increase. It also includes a 16-core Neural Engine and 50% more memory bandwidth.
A dedicated display engine allows the chip to drive both screens simultaneously.
The iPhone Duo comes with a 48MP Dual Fusion camera system. The main camera features sensor-shift stabilisation and supports a 2x optical-quality crop.
It is paired with a 48MP Fusion ultra-wide camera. Unlike Apple's Pro models, the Duo lacks a dedicated telephoto camera, variable aperture, or Pro camera controls.
The device also includes a 12MP Centre Stage front camera, while the under-display FaceTime camera supports 1080p video.
Video recording goes up to 4K at 120fps with Dolby Vision. Apple has also added Photographic Styles 3 with new texture and grain controls.
The camera app includes a new Siri mode, while a feature called Kid Cue uses animations to encourage children to look towards the camera.
iOS 27.1 gets a foldable-focused interface
The iPhone Duo ships with iOS 27.1, with Apple redesigning parts of the interface specifically for the foldable form factor rather than simply enlarging the existing iPhone interface.
Lock-screen controls, app navigation and the dock move towards the side to make better use of the available space. The Dynamic Island has also been redesigned to run vertically along the edge of either display.
When unfolded, users get two home-screen pages along with a scrolling Today view. The interface automatically adapts as the phone is folded, rotated or flipped.
Apple is also introducing Split View, allowing two apps to run side by side on an iPhone for the first time. Users can open two windows of the same app and save app pairs for quick access later.
Siri AI gets deeper integration
Apple's rebuilt Siri AI assistant is arriving in beta with iOS 27 from September 14, initially in English, with additional languages planned for October.
The upgraded Siri can use personal context from Messages, Mail and Photos, perform actions within apps and answer general questions. Apple is positioning the iPhone Duo's large inner display as an ideal interface for interacting with the revamped assistant.
Battery and charging
Despite its foldable design, Apple claims the iPhone Duo can deliver up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner display and 44 hours on the outer display.
With both screens sharing the workload equally, the company quotes up to 24 hours of typical use.
The battery can reach 50% charge in around 20 minutes using a cable, while MagSafe takes approximately 30 minutes to reach the same level.
eSIM-only connectivity
One major consideration for buyers is connectivity. The iPhone Duo is eSIM-only worldwide, with Apple removing the physical SIM tray entirely.
In India, Airtel, Jio and Vi support eSIM, making the device compatible with major Indian networks.
The phone also features Apple's N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread connectivity, while the company's C2 modem handles cellular connectivity.
Apple introduces new accessories
The iPhone Duo box includes the phone and a USB-C cable, but no charging adapter or earphones.
Apple is selling two first-party cases separately:
Duo Folio with retractable kickstand: ₹14,900
Two-part lightweight case: ₹8,900
Both cases support MagSafe and Qi2 charging.
In India, Apple is also offering trade-in credit ranging from ₹4,500 to ₹81,500, depending on the device being exchanged. Buyers can get No Cost EMI for up to six months and instant cashback of up to ₹7,000 on eligible American Express, Axis Bank and ICICI Bank cards.
iPhone Duo: Key Specifications
Display
5.4-inch outer Super Retina XDR display
7.6-inch inner foldable display
ProMotion
Always-On display
Up to 3,000 nits brightness
Nano-texture inner display
10 ultra-thin inner display layers
Processor
Cameras
48MP Fusion main camera
Sensor-shift stabilisation
2x optical-quality crop
48MP Fusion ultra-wide camera
12MP Centre Stage front camera
Under-display FaceTime camera
4K 120fps Dolby Vision video
Battery and Charging
Up to 31 hours of video playback on inner display
Up to 44 hours on outer display
Up to 24 hours typical use with equal screen workloads
50% charge in around 20 minutes via cable
Around 30 minutes via MagSafe
Software
Connectivity
5G
eSIM only
Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth 6
Thread
NFC
MagSafe
Qi2
Build and Security
Colours
India Availability
