Apple entered the foldable smartphone market with the debut of the iPhone Duo, featuring a passport-sized folded format and a starting price of roughly $2,000. Unveiled by the company’s product chief John Ternus at Apple Park in California, the high-end device launches globally on October 23, entering a niche segment that currently captures less than 2% of worldwide smartphone sales according to market data from IDC.
“D’autres ont créé des pliables qui ressemblent à deux téléphones maladroitement collés l’un à l’autre,” John Ternus said in a prerecorded video shown at the Steve Jobs Theater, positioning the device as a more intuitive alternative to existing folding handsets.
Market Position and Competitive Landscape
According to IDC research director Kiranjeet Kaur, Apple’s entry is expected to capture nearly a third of the foldable phone market this year. “L’iPhone pliable d’Apple va très probablement modifier la dynamique concurrentielle, en Chine comme sur les marchés mondiaux,” Kaur noted regarding the competitive outlook.
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Competitors in the region have established early positions in the foldable category. Huawei markets its three-fold Mate XT 2 starting at 19’999 yuan (2413 francs), while Xiaomi offers its passport-formatted 18 Fold starting at 10 999 yuan (1327 francs).
Hardware Specifications and Design
When folded, the iPhone Duo functions with a 13.7-centimeter diagonal display. Unfolding the device reveals a 19.3-centimeter screen, sizing the display similarly to a small tablet.
Apple engineering teams focused on minimizing the visible crease along the center of the display, a frequent consumer criticism of early foldable designs. The hardware incorporates a titanium frame alongside a redesigned hinge mechanism. Biometric authentication relies on a side-button fingerprint scanner. Later in the year, the device will add compatibility with the Apple Pencil stylus, marking a first for the iPhone product line.
Pricing Adjustments Across the Lineup
Alongside the foldable announcement, Apple adjusted pricing for its core smartphone catalog. The baseline cost for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max increased by $100, bringing starting prices to $1,199 and $1,299 respectively. This shift marks the first direct price increase on Apple’s flagship products since constraints in the memory chip supply chain triggered widespread hardware cost adjustments earlier in the year.
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